Increased Odds of Mortality from Non-Malignant Respiratory Disease and Lung Cancer Are Highest Among US Coal Miners Born After 1939

Details

• Personal Author:
  Almberg KS ; Cohen RA ; Friedman LS ; Go LHT ; Hall NB ; Halldin, Cara N. ; Rose CS
• Description:
  Objectives: Coal miners suffer increased mortality from non-malignant respiratory diseases (NMRD), including pneumoconioses and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, compared with the US population. We characterised mortality trends from NMRD, lung cancer and ischaemic heart disease (IHD) using data from the Federal Black Lung Program, National Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program and the National Death Index. Methods: We compared mortality ORs (MORs) for NMRD, lung cancer and IHD in former US coal miners to US white males. MORs were computed for the study period 1979-2017 by birth cohort (<1920, 1920-1929, 1930-1939, ≥1940), with a subanalysis restricted to Central Appalachia. Results: The study population totalled 235 550 deceased miners, aged >45 years. Odds of death from NMRD and lung cancer across all miner birth cohorts averaged twice those of US males. In Central Appalachia, MORs significantly increased across birth cohorts. There was an eightfold increase in odds of death from NMRD among miners born after 1940 (MORBC=1940 8.25; 95% CI 7.67 to 8.87). Miners with progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) were younger at death than those without PMF (74 vs 78 years; p<0.0001). We observed a pattern of reduced MORs from IHD in coal miners compared with national and regional counterparts. Conclusion: US coal miners have excess mortality from NMRD and lung cancer compared with total US and Appalachian populations. Mortality is highest in the most recent birth cohorts, perhaps reflecting increased rates of severe pneumoconiosis. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Cardiovascular Diseases Cardiovascular System Coal Coal Mining Epidemiology Lung Lung Diseases Mining Mortality Neoplasms Occupational Health Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety

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• Keywords:
  Coal Miners Heart Disease Lung Cancer Mortality Data Mortality Rates Pneumoconiosis Respiratory Diseases
• Series:
  Mining Publications
• ISSN:
  1351-0711
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Colorado ; Illinois ; OSHA Region 10 ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 8 ; Washington ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  SMRD - Spokane Mining Research Division ; RHD - Respiratory Health Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  121-128
• Volume:
  80
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20066805
• Citation:
  Occup Environ Med 2023 Mar; 80(3):121-128
• Contact Point Address:
  Dr Kirsten S Almberg, School of Public Health, Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
• Email:
  almberg@uic.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2023
• NORA Priority Area:
  Mining
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:c83e23a883ae0186e10bf7b8ce21b54e5d5f2339932589449a3c73740d0d99eab73862d8b667c22fc88b82c052e3a50350a868b7e2b84cb500d41ee7e78fa0ae
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/215612/cdc_215612_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 380.44 KB ]