Pathology and mineralogy demonstrate respirable crystalline silica is a major cause of severe pneumoconiosis in U.S. coal miners.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Abraham JL ; Almberg KS ; Clingerman SM ; Cohen RA ; Cool CD ; Franko AD ; Go LHT ; Green FHY ; Hubbs, Ann F. ; Iwaniuk C ; Lowers HA ; Murray J ; Orandle MS ; Petsonk, Edward L. ; Richardson DL ; Rose CS ; Sanyal S ; Sarver EA ; Vorajee NI ; Zell-Baran LM ; Zulfikar R
• Description:
  Rationale: The reasons for resurgent coal workers' pneumoconiosis and its most severe forms, rapidly progressive pneumoconiosis and progressive massive fibrosis (PMF), in the United States are not yet fully understood. Objectives: To compare the pathologic and mineralogic features of contemporary coal miners with severe pneumoconiosis with those of their historical counterparts. Methods: Lung pathology specimens from 85 coal miners with PMF were included for evaluation and analysis. We compared the proportion of cases with pathologic and mineralogic findings in miners born between 1910 and 1930 (historical) with those in miners born in or after 1930 (contemporary). Results: We found a significantly higher proportion of silica-type PMF (57% vs. 18%; P < 0.001) among contemporary miners compared with their historical counterparts. Mineral dust alveolar proteinosis was also more common in contemporary miners compared with their historical counterparts (70% vs. 37%; P < 0.01). In situ mineralogic analysis showed that the percentage (26.1% vs. 17.8%; P < 0.01) and concentration (47.3 × 108 vs. 25.8 × 108 particles/cm3; P = 0.036) of silica particles were significantly greater in specimens from contemporary miners compared with their historical counterparts. The concentration of silica particles was significantly greater when silica-type PMF, mineral dust alveolar proteinosis, silicotic nodules, or immature silicotic nodules were present (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Exposure to respirable crystalline silica appears causal in the unexpected surge of severe disease in contemporary miners. Our findings underscore the importance of controlling workplace silica exposure to prevent the disabling and untreatable adverse health effects afflicting U.S. coal miners. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Coal Coal Mining Fibrosis Lung Lung Diseases Mining Occupational Health Pathology Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Silicon Dioxide Silicosis

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• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Silicosis; Coal Workers; Dust Pathology; Crystalline Silica; Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis; Black Lung Disease; Coal Miners; Coal Mines; Coal Mining; Fibrosis;
• ISSN:
  2329-6933
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Colorado ; Illinois ; New York ; OSHA Region 2 ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 8 ; Virginia ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  RHD - Respiratory Health Division ; HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  19
• Issue:
  9
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20064969
• Citation:
  Ann Am Thorac Soc 2022 Sep; 19(9):1469-1478
• Contact Point Address:
  Robert A. Cohen, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois Chicago, 1603 W. Taylor Street (MC923), Chicago, IL 60612
• Email:
  bobcohen@uic.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Quartz (SiO2) (CAS RN 14808-60-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2022
• NORA Priority Area:
  Mining ; Manufacturing
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Annals of the American Thoracic Society
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:af9409196113630690812522d6bb0938067f6b6115cd548bb5b77d0c74a683e9a6258e76f8bcb4d7518e424752f0ffe5a43324ca169ee1a415a78681bc8c7f6a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/249289/cdc_249289_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.47 MB ]