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Cigarette smoking is an established risk factor for a broad spectrum of chronic lung diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung diseases (such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, respiratory bronchiolitis, desquamative interstitial pneumonia and pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis) and lung cancer. Although the pathogenesis of these diseases have been investigated, it is still difficult to predict which smokers will develop emphysema or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). It is assumed that a genetic predisposition exists and then an additional insult, which may include smoking, must occur.