Nonmalignant Respiratory Disease Mortality in Male Colorado Plateau Uranium Miners, 1960–2016

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bertke S ; Daniels, Robert D. ; Kelly-Reif K ; Richardson DB ; Schubauer-Berigan, Mary K.
• Description:
  Background: To evaluate trends of nonmalignant respiratory disease (NMRD) mortality among US underground uranium miners on the Colorado Plateau, and to estimate the exposure-response association between cumulative radon progeny exposure and NMRD subtype mortality. Methods: Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and excess relative rates per 100 working level months (excess relative rate [ERR]/100 WLM) were estimated in a cohort of 4021 male underground uranium miners who were followed from 1960 through 2016. Results: We observed elevated SMRs for all NMRD subtypes. Silicosis had the largest SMR (n= 52, SMR = 41.4; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 30.9, 54.3), followed by other pneumoconiosis (n= 49, SMR = 39.6; 95% CI: 29.6, 52.3) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) (n= 64, SMR = 4.77; 95% CI 3.67, 6.09). SMRs for silicosis increased with duration of employment; SMRs for IPF increased with duration of employment and calendar period. There was a positive association between cumulative radon exposure and silicosis with evidence of modificationby smoking (ERR/100 WLM=10 pack-years= 0.78; 95% CI: 0.05, 24.6 and ERR/100WLM<10 pack-years= 0.01; 95% CI:-0.03, 0.52), as well as a small positive association between radon and IPF (ERR/100 WLM = 0.06, 95% CI: 0.00, 0.24); these associations were driven by workers with prior employment in hard rockmining. Conclusions: Uranium mining workers had excess NMRD mortality compared with the general population; this excess persisted throughout follow-up. Exposure-response analyses indicated a positive association between radon exposure and IPF and silicosis, but these analyses have limitations due to outcome misclassification and missing information on occupational co-exposures such as silica dust. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Fibrosis Mining Mortality Occupational Health Safety Silicosis
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Pulmonary Fibrosis; Radon; Respiratory Disease; Silicosis; Uranium Uranium; Radon; Mortality Rates; Underground Mining; Underground Miners; Silicosis; Pneumoconiosis; Fibrosis;
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.23419
• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California ; Colorado ; North Carolina ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 8 ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DFSE - Division of Field Studies and Engineering ; WTCHP - World Trade Center Health Program
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  65
• Issue:
  10
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20065849
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 2022 Oct; 65(10):773-782
• Contact Point Address:
  Kaitlin Kelly-Reif, PhD, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Field Studies and Engineering, 1090 Tusculum Ave, MS-R14, Cincinnati, OH 45226
• Email:
  kkelly-reif@cdc.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Radon (CAS RN 10043-92-2) ; Uranium (CAS RN 7440-61-1)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2023
• NORA Priority Area:
  Manufacturing
• Performing Organization:
  University of California Los Angeles
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• End Date:
  20270630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:f3d2c2c83e3dac8cc6003213c92d4538cc80ff6237fe657e24d0f6be32bb686663be6aa5bd736ed7da4ac715f053d8ed3bb664b36e49d8c3abe48f4012c5ba9e
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/248927/cdc_248927_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 700.83 KB ]