Continued Increase in Prevalence of Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis in the United States, 1970–2017

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• Personal Author:
  Blackley DJ ; Halldin, Cara N. ; Laney AS
• Description:
  Objectives. To update prevalence estimates for coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) among working underground coal miners in the United States. Methods. We conducted a prevalence study using radiographs collected from 1970 to 2017. We classified each radiograph using international standards. We defined CWP as the presence of small opacities, with profusion greater than or equal to subcategory 1/0, or the presence of a large opacity larger than 1 centimeter. Results. Following a low point in the late 1990s, the national prevalence of CWP in miners with 25 years or more of tenure now exceeds 10%. In central Appalachia (Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia), 20.6% of long-tenured miners have CWP. When we excluded miners from central Appalachia, the prevalence for the remainder of the United States was lower, but an increase since 2000 remains evident. Conclusions. The national prevalence of CWP among working coal miners is increasing. This increase is most pronounced in central Appalachia. Current CWP prevalence estimates will likely be reflected in future trends for severe and disabling disease, including progressive massive fibrosis. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Coal Coal Mining Fibrosis Lung Lung Diseases Mining Occupational Health Quality Control Radiography Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety

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• Keywords:
  Black Lung Disease Chest Radiography Chest X-rays Coal Miners Coal Workers Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis Long Term Exposure Lung Disease Lung Fibrosis Lung Function Occupational Respiratory Disease Pneumoconiosis Pulmonary Function Pulmonary System Disorders Quality Standards Radiographic Analysis Respiratory Function Respiratory Health Respiratory System Disorders Standards Statistical Analysis Surveillance Surveillance Programs Underground Miners X-ray Diagnosis

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• ISSN:
  0090-0036
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  RHD - Respiratory Health Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  108
• Issue:
  9
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20052250
• Citation:
  Am J Public Health 2018 Sep; 108(9):1220-1222
• Contact Point Address:
  A. Scott Laney, Surveillance Branch, Respiratory Health Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1095 Willowdale Road, Mail Stop HG900.2, Morgantown, WV 26505-2888
• Email:
  alaney@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Public Health
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:03947e620fd89b799a60052e8b39d25880936245bad2d4b5336fc208449f9eda37a680248bcbb84c9f6422f756aa71369825d6d624a658e0e44843fffaab446c
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/211805/cdc_211805_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 788.04 KB ]