Purpose Occupational exposure to dust has been recognised as a significant health hazard to mine workers. This study aimed to investigate the association between exposure to inhalable (INH) and respirable (RES) dust and respiratory health among mine workers in Western Australia using an industry-wide exposure database. Methods The database comprised cross-sectional surveys conducted by mining companies for the period 2001–2012. The study population consisted of 12,797 workers who were monitored for exposure to INH and RES dust and undertook health assessments including a respiratory questionnaire and spirometry test. Results Despite the general trend of declining exposure to both INH and RES dust observed over the 12 years period, mine workers reported a higher prevalence of phlegm and cough when exposed to elevated concentrations of INH and RES dust. Logistic regression analysis further confirmed the positive association between INH dust exposure and the prevalence of phlegm with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.033 (95% CI 1.012–1.052). Overall, 6.3% of miners might have potential airway obstruction, and exposure to INH dust was associated with impaired lung function parameters. Conclusion Exposure levels of INH and RES dust particles among mine workers have reduced considerably and were well below currently legislated occupational exposure limits. However, given the reported higher prevalence of phlegm and cough among those with elevated dust concentrations, there is a continued need for effective dust exposure monitoring and control in the mineral mining industry.

Despite that large percentages of individual daily time is spent in the home, few studies have examined the relationship between indoor particulate matter (PM) exposure in residential settings with subclinical indicators of cardiovascular risk. This cross-sectional study investigated associations between exposure to fine (PM2.5) and ultrafine (UFP) PM in domestic indoor environments, with central blood pressure (BP) and component BP measures (pulse pressure, augmented pressure [AP], augmentation index [AIx], mean arterial pressure, pulse wave velocity [PWV]) in 40 non-smoking, otherwise healthy adults (58% women) living in Perth, Western Australia. Overall, in adjusted models, an interquartile range (IQR) increase in PM2.5 was associated with a 3.2 mmHg (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.99, 5.45) higher diastolic BP, and a 1.8 mmHg lower AP (95%CI: − 3.63, − 0.01) and 0.4 m/s PWV (95%CI: − 0.80, − 0.08), respectively. For the UFP fraction, an IQR increase was associated with a 5.2% higher AIx (95%CI: 0.51, 9.97) and a 0.6 m/s lower PWV (95%CI: − 1.00, − 0.11).When stratified by sex, higher UFP concentrations were associated with higher DBP and lower PWV among women. Among men, higher UFP concentrations were associated with lower AP. Exposure to domestic indoor fine and ultrafine PM was associated with preclinical indicators of cardiovascular risk and some of these relationships were affected by sex. These findings contribute important evidence linking low-level residential indoor PM exposure with measurable impacts on cardiovascular physiology and may inform preventative recommendations as part of risk profiles for susceptible individuals.

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