Lung function, blood gases, pH and serum electrolytes of small‐scale miners exposed to chrome ore dust on the Great Dyke in Zimbabwe

Abstract

SummaryWe measured and compared lung function indices and some blood parameters (gases, electrolytes, glucose, pH, red cell indices) of 54 male small-scale miners (SSM) chronically exposed to chrome ore dust to those of 50 nonmining control subjects (NMC) and 46 large-scale chrome miners (LSM) who had taken internationally recommended precautionary measures (secondary control). The respirable dust level in the SSM environment (6.0 Ϯ 0.5 mg/m 3 ) was significantly higher (P Ͻ 0.001) than in the NMC and LSM environments (0.3 Ϯ 0.1 mg/m 3 and 0.5 Ϯ 0.3 mg/m 3 , respectively). There were no significant differences in neither dust levels nor lung function status between NMC and LSM environments. The values of FVC, FEV 1 , PEFR and FEV 1 % of the SSM were 3.5 Ϯ 0.09 l, 2.61 Ϯ 0.09 l, 6.07 Ϯ 0.36 l/second and 76.19 Ϯ 2.36%, respectively. These values were significantly lower than those of NMC (P Ͻ 0.01, respectively). However, the blood parameters of the SSM and NMC were not significantly different. The results are indicative of both restrictive and obstructive ventilatory defects in the SSM which may be attributed exposure to chrome ore dust in the environment. Associated risk factors appear to be advancing age, prolonged exposure to chrome ore dust and acid base disturbance.keywords lung function, miners, chrome ore dust correspondence Professor E.

Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) 2008*

“…More recently, asthma, COPD, chronic cough and/or rhinitis induced by occupational exposure have been identified in developing countries (591,(624)(625)(626)(627)(628)(629)(630)(631)(632)(633)(634)(635)(636)(637)(638).…”

Silicosis, tuberculosis and silica exposure among artisanal and small-scale miners: A systematic review and modelling paper

“…From a total of 357 titles and abstracts, 56 studies were full-text screened and 18 eligible studies of 13 distinct populations from 10 countries included in our analysis (Fig 2) (30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45)(46)(47). Of these studies, six reported on silicosis prevalence (30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35), six on tuberculosis prevalence (33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38), eight on dust or respirable silica exposures (30,32,(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44), three on spirometry findings (39,46,47) and three on respiratory symptoms (32,43,45). There was moderate agreement for title and abstract review, Cohen's kappa of 0.56 (HM) and 0.49 (BS).…”

“…The number of ASM enrolled in all 14 clinical studies ranged from 18 to 21,136 participants (median 441, IQR 258 -867) with an overall total of 29,562 participants. There were 14 studies from Africa (33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45)(46), two studies from Asia (30,47) and two from South America (31,32). Most of the included studies were in gold (10/18) and gemstone (5/18) mining communities and were exclusively underground (10/18) or both under and above ground ASM (5/18).…”

“…In those reporting age, the summary statistic ranged between 24.4 and 40.1 years. In studies reporting sex, five studies included only male miners (30)(31)(32)35,39) while in five other studies the majority (59-85%) were male (33,34,36,45,47). All studies except one were of active miners.…”

Health Studies in the Context of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining: A Scoping Review

“…Besides chemical pollutants, blood, and urine samples were also analysed for other physiological parameters, such as blood lactate and cyanide [73,74], haematological parameters, and other blood chemistry [47,75], mitochondrial DNA, and other DNA mutations [48,[76][77][78], immunological response to vaccines, and other immune-related proteins [50,79,80], renal and respiratory parameters [75,81], and infectious diseases, such as malaria [82] and HIV [47,83]. Saliva (cortisol salivary) [84], Buccal cells (DNA damage and mutations) [63,77], and stool samples (soil-transmitted helminths and Vibrio cholerae) [85,86] were also reported.…”