Debilitating Lung Disease Among Surface Coal Miners with No Underground Mining Tenure

Details

• Personal Author:
  Abraham JL ; Colinet, Jay F. ; Halldin, Cara N. ; Joy, Gerald J. ; Laney AS ; Petsonk, Edward L. ; Reed, William R. ; Rider, James P. ; Storey, Eileen ; Wolfe, Anita L.
• Description:
  OBJECTIVE: To characterize exposure histories and respiratory disease among surface coal miners identified with progressive massive fibrosis from a 2010 to 2011 pneumoconiosis survey. METHODS: Job history, tenure, and radiograph interpretations were verified. Previous radiographs were reviewed when available. Telephone follow-up sought additional work and medical history information. RESULTS: Among eight miners who worked as drill operators or blasters for most of their tenure (median, 35.5 years), two reported poor dust control practices, working in visible dust clouds as recently as 2012. Chest radiographs progressed to progressive massive fibrosis in as few as 11 years. One miner's lung biopsy demonstrated fibrosis and interstitial accumulation of macrophages containing abundant silica, aluminum silicate, and titanium dust particles. CONCLUSIONS: Overexposure to respirable silica resulted in progressive massive fibrosis among current surface coal miners with no underground mining tenure. Inadequate dust control during drilling/blasting is likely an important etiologic factor. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aluminum Silicates Coal Coal Mining Dust Fibrosis Mining Occupational Health Radiation Radiography Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Silicon Dioxide

  More +
• Keywords:
  Coal-dust Coal-miners Coal-mining Dust-exposure Dust-particles Dusts Exposure-levels Radiographic-analysis Risk-factors Silica-dusts Silicates Surface-mining Surveillance

  More +
• Series:
  Mining Publications
• ISSN:
  1076-2752
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  New York ; OSHA Region 2 ; OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DRDS - Division of Respiratory Disease Studies ; OMSHR - Office of Mine Safety and Health Research
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  62-67
• Volume:
  57
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20045502
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Med 2015 Jan; 57(1):62-67
• Contact Point Address:
  Cara N. Halldin, PhD, Surveillance Branch, Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, 1095 Willowdale Rd, Mail Stop HG900, Morgantown, WV 26505
• Email:
  challdin@cdc.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Silica (CAS RN 7631-86-9) ; Titanium (CAS RN 7440-32-6)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2015
• NORA Priority Area:
  Mining
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:8d07ef1263f2df02123e9abfb2b2dbdaa6d0d71ed4574aec6a0bcd6d56a828611e72a1066a8a1f1a353b9b69666bdfb6ebba07a968c3cc1c4423bf63199809b2
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/228094/cdc_228094_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 488.84 KB ]