Effects of Commodity on the Risk of Emphysema in South African Miners

Details

• Personal Author:
  Almberg KS ; Cohen RA ; Friedman L ; Mabila SL ; Murray J ; Ndlovu N ; Vorajee N
• Description:
  Purpose: To examine associations between mine commodity such as coal, platinum, or diamonds and emphysema among South African miners at autopsy. Methods: We examined the association between mine commodity and emphysema using the Pathology Automation (PATHAUT) database, 1975-2014. Exposure was characterized as longest tenure in each commodity. We constructed separate multivariable logistic regression models for black and white miners. Smoking was assessed in a sub-analysis of white miners. Results: Among black miners, coal mining was significantly associated with increased odds of emphysema [OR = 2.39 (95% CI 1.86, 3.07)] when compared to gold mining. Asbestos was also associated with significantly increased odds of emphysema among black miners [OR = 1.47 (95% CI 1.01, 2.12)]. No associations between commodity and emphysema were observed among white miners. Cumulative years of exposure and age at death were significant predictors for emphysema for both black and white miners. Smoking was a significant predictor of emphysema in the sub-analysis of white miners with smoking information, but no effect of commodity was observed. Conclusions: We observed a significant association between coal mining and emphysema among black miners. Adverse health effects of coal mining are evidenced by more than twofold increase in emphysema among black coal miners compared to gold miners. This suggests that South African Coal miners are exposed to high dust concentrations or more damaging components compared to other commodities, resulting in elevated risk of emphysema. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Age Factors Asbestos Coal Coal Mining Database Dust Emigration And Immigration Inorganic Chemicals Lung Diseases Mining Occupational Health Pathology Race Factors Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Smokers Tobacco Products

  More +
• Keywords:
  Age Factors Analytical Models Analytical Processes Author Keywords: Emphysema Cigarette Smoking Coal Mining Commodities Commodity Databases Exposure Assessment Gold Gold Mines Health Effects Long Term Exposure Lung Disease Migrant Workers Mineral Dusts Mining Industry Occupation PATHAUT Platinum Pulmonary System Disorders Racial Factors Regression Analysis Respiratory System Disorders Smoking South Africa

  More +
• ISSN:
  0340-0131
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Illinois ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  315-323
• Volume:
  93
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20057750
• Citation:
  Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2020 Apr; 93(3):315:323
• Contact Point Address:
  Sithembile L. Mabila, Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1603 W. Taylor St. (Room 1115), Chicago, IL 60612, USA
• Email:
  sl.mabila@gmail.com
• CAS Registry Number:
  Asbestos (CAS RN 1332-21-4) ; Gold (CAS RN 7440-57-5)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• Performing Organization:
  University of Illinois at Chicago
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
• End Date:
  20290630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:620a4307f0fd2f8a041b7ca066d40405ce8bc07328f084ed677f83680d276a591e188b4719d7bcc662f6c9127435a8a1d2795fc61147908c5de80650750c8588
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/214987/cdc_214987_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 585.08 KB ]