| Document ID (ISN) | 112464 |
| CIS number |
12-0188 |
| ISSN - Serial title |
1351-0711 - Occupational and Environmental Medicine |
| Year |
2010 |
| Convention or series no. |
|
| Author(s) |
Laney A.S., Petsonk E.L., Attfield M.D. |
| Title |
Pneumoconiosis among underground bituminous coal miners in the United States: Is silicosis becoming more frequent? |
| Bibliographic information |
Oct. 2010, Vol.67, No.10, p.652-656. Illus. 28 ref. |
| Internet access |
Pneumoconiosis_among_underground_bituminous_coal_miners_[INTERNET_FREE_ACCESS] [in English]
|
| Abstract |
Epidemiological reports since 2000 have documented increased prevalence and rapid progression of pneumoconiosis among underground coal miners in the United States. To investigate a possible role of silica exposure in the increase, this study examined chest x-rays (CXRs) for specific abnormalities (r-type small opacities) known to be associated with silicosis lung pathology. Underground coal miners are offered CXRs every 5 years. Abnormalities consistent with pneumoconiosis are recorded by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) B Readers using ILO classification. CXRs from 1980 to 2008 of 90,973 participating miners were studied, focusing on reporting of r-type opacities (small rounded opacities 3-10 mm in diameter). Log binomial regression was used to calculate prevalence ratios adjusted for miner age and profusion category. Among miners, the proportion of radiographs showing r-type opacities increased during the 1990s (prevalence ratio (PR) 2.5) and after 1999 (PR 4.1), compared to the 1980s. The prevalence of progressive massive fibrosis in 2000-2008 was also elevated compared to the 1980s (PR 4.4) and 1990s (PR 3.8). The increasing prevalence of pneumoconiosis over the past decade and the change in the epidemiology and disease profile documented in this and other recent studies imply that United States coal miners are being exposed to excessive amounts of respirable crystalline silica. |
| Descriptors (primary) |
USA; underground mining; coalworkers pneumoconiosis; silicosis; coal mining; risk factors |
| Descriptors (secondary) |
chest radiography; opacities; radiographic interpretation; long-term study; statistical evaluation |
| Document type |
D - Periodical articles |
| Subject(s) |
Mines and quarries
Occupational pathology
|
| Broad subject area(s) |
Occupational medicine, epidemiology
|
| Browse category(ies) |
Pneumoconioses
Mining and quarrying
|
