Respiratory Health of American Indian and Alaska Native Coal Miners Participating in the Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program, 2014–2019

Details

• Personal Author:
  Blackley DJ ; Hall NB ; Halldin, Cara N. ; Laney AS ; Mazurek JM ; Nye MJ
• Description:
  Background: In 2014, a federal rule reduced occupational exposure limits to coal mine dust and expanded medical surveillance eligibility beyond underground miners to surface and contract coal miners. This expansion may have provided an opportunity for more American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) coal miners to participate in screening, since many surface coal mines are located near AI/AN communities and may employ AI/AN miners. Therefore we sought to better understand the respiratory health of AI/AN coal miners by characterizing prevalence of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP), progressive massive fibrosis (PMF), and abnormal lung function in this population. Methods: Descriptive analysis of 1405 chest radiographs and 627 spirometry test results for AI/AN miners who participated in the Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program (CWHSP) during 2014-2019 was conducted. Results: Most AI/AN miners (0-25+ years of tenure) were western United States residents (82.3%) and active surface miners (76.9%) with no underground tenure. Among miners with at least 10 years of tenure, prevalence of CWP was 3.0%, and of PMF was 0.3%. Lung function abnormalities were seen in 9.0% with primarily restrictive patterns. Conclusions: The prevalence of CWP, PMF, and lung function abnormality among active and former AI/AN coal miners was higher than seen in a larger CWHSP study of active western miners working primarily underground with 10+ years of tenure. Interventions that eliminate or control coal mine dust exposure, identify miners with CWP early, and limit respiratory disease progression and complications remain vital for eliminating the preventable adverse health effects of coal mining. Comprehensive demographic data on the coal mining workforce are needed to improve CWHSP participation assessment. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Coal Coal Mining Lung Lung Diseases Mining Minority Health Occupational Health Pneumoconiosis Radiography Respiratory Function Tests Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety

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• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: American Indian And Alaska Native Chest Radiography Coal Dust Coal Miners Coal Mining Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program CWHSP Lung Fibrosis Lung Function Minority Health Respiratory Health Screening Programs Spirometry Surveillance

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• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• 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
• Pages in Document:
  162-165
• Volume:
  65
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20064405
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 2022 Mar; 65(3):162-165
• Contact Point Address:
  Cara N. Halldin, CDC/NIOSH/RHD/SB, 1000 Frederick Ln., MSHG900.2, Morgantown, WV 26508, USA
• Email:
  challdin@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2022
• NORA Priority Area:
  Mining
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:312569703268d6902ba74837f3e1a8b1067be76990dc323823eacf39cb9358ccecd181a344eb25e0212b2d91ca874c9450133b6dd9e7779a183e8f7e4c3281e1
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/222869/cdc_222869_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 322.76 KB ]