Lung pathology in coal workers with rapidly progressive pneumoconiosis emphasizes importance of silica and silicates in addition to carbon

Details

• Personal Author:
  Abraham JL ; Churg A ; Cohen RA ; Green F ; MacNeill S ; Najmuddin A ; Petsonk, Edward L. ; Regier M ; Tramma S ; Young B
• Description:
  Rationale: Rapidly progressive coal workers' pneumoconiosis (RPP) [Antao et al, OEM 2005;62:670-674] has recently been described in the United States, despite declining reported mine dust exposures. RPP appears more common among younger coal miners and in certain geographic regions, labeled "hot spots". Surveillance has shown increasing r-type pneumoconiotic opacities on miner chest radiographs in these regions, suggesting excessive exposure to silica and silicates. We sought to describe the pathology and investigate the patterns of inflammation, fibrosis, and deposited particles associated with this form of the disease, using existing coal miner lung specimens. Methods: Miners who had lung biopsies or autopsies were identified through the West Virginia Occupational Pneumoconiosis Board, the Black Lung Clinics Program, and miners' attorneys. After IRB approval and informed consent, participating miners or families completed a standardized questionnaire on demographics, smoking, and work. Slides were obtained, anonymized, and independently scored by three expert pathologists, using a standardized pathological scoring system, based on published criteria. Results: Twenty-one of 27 miners or family members contacted for the study consented. Radiographs in all cases demonstrated RPP. Eighteen specimens, (7 surgical biopsies, 5 explants, 3 autopsies, 2 needle core biopsies, and 1 transbronchial biopsy), were received and reviewed by the three pathologists, forming the basis of this report. The miners had a mean age of 56 (range 44-76) at the time tissue was obtained and a mean mining tenure of 31 (range 20-48) years. The pathology reviews documented a particularly aggressive form of pneumoconiosis with features of accelerated silicosis. A majority of cases demonstrated PMF. Classic lesions of simple CWP were present but not prominent. Atypical features such as diffuse dust-related fibrosis and alveolar lipoproteinosis were present. Polarized light microscopy revealed large amounts of birefringent mineral dust particles consistent with silica and silicates, with sparse carbonaceous coal dust. Conclusions: Lung pathology from a group of coal miners with rapidly progressive pneumoconiosis has demonstrated complicated pneumoconiosis, as well as accelerated silicosis, and diffuse dust-related fibrosis. These preliminary results are consistent with exposures to coal mine dusts containing high concentrations of respirable silica and silicates. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Age Factors Aging Aluminum Silicates Autopsy Coal Coal Mining Dust Fibrosis Lung Lung Diseases Mining Occupational Health Pathology Quartz Radiography Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Silicon Dioxide

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• Keywords:
  Age-factors Age-groups Alveolar-cells Autopsies Biopsy Chest-X-rays Coal-dust Coal-miners Coal-mining Coal-workers-pneumoconiosis Dust-exposure Dust-inhalation Lung-disease Lung-fibrosis Lung-tissue Mineral-dusts Miners Mining-industry Pneumoconiosis Pulmonary-system-disorders Quartz-dust Radiographic-analysis Respirable-dust Respiratory-system-disorders Silica-dusts Silicates Silicosis Surveillance Tissue-culture Underground-miners Underground-mining

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• ISSN:
  1073-449X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  Illinois ; New York ; OSHA Region 2 ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 5 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DRDS - Division of Respiratory Disease Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  189
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20044378
• Citation:
  Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2014 May; 189(Meeting Abstracts):A5218
• Contact Point Address:
  R. A. Cohen, Cook County Health and Hospitals System, Chicago, IL
• Email:
  bobcohen@uic.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Carbon (CAS RN 7440-44-0) ; Quartz (SiO2) (CAS RN 14808-60-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2014
• NORA Priority Area:
  Mining
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
• Supplement:
  Meeting Abstracts
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:0766957e0e14a2f498a8db6861906fb555d7285d51675a05665963457603ce83d9321b7952d364c7c9ad4a82dda41fd0056362dc76d3cfe60ed27aa1c6ae1741
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/200089/cdc_200089_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 138.86 KB ]