Prevalence of pneumoconiosis and its relationship to dust exposure in a cohort of U.S. Bituminous coal miners and ex‐miners

Attfield, Michael D.; Seixas, Noah S.

doi:10.1002/ajim.4700270113

Cited by 96 publications

(66 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Attfield et al, however, showed no apparent difference in an implied threshold for categories ≥1 and ≥2 overall [13]. Adding the effect of high ranked coal, however, produced a higher threshold for CWP ≥2 than for CWP ≥1, which is an expected result.…”

Section: Critique Of Hurley Et Al [1011]mentioning

confidence: 84%

“…The background level of CWP is estimated to be about 5% [13]. At this background level there is no excess PMF for low ranking coal 3-5 and no excess CWP ≥2 for low ranking coal below 110 mg/m 3 -years, (Figures 10, 11, and 12).…”

Section: Critique Of Attfield and Morring [19]mentioning

confidence: 95%

“…These estimates were subsequently used in two morbidity studies [13,19] and a mortality study [20]. These exposure estimates may not have a significant effect on the relative toxicities of coal rank, but are critically important in the derivation of exposure-response associations in US coal studies.…”

Section: Exposure-response Studies Of Radiographic Cwp In the Us [18]mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The other morbidity study used both pre-and post-1970 exposure [13]. The latter authors noted the potential for the under-estimation bias in exposure via "probable systematic underestimation of higher dust levels brought about by certain mine operator sampling practices over the years" and special sampling exercises that showed "operator sampled dust levels were indeed systematically lower than those collected by inspectors" [13].…”

Section: Critique Of Attfield and Morring [18]mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, the authors advise caution in using the information in this report. (See [13] for comparison. )…”

Section: Critique Of Attfield and Morring [19]mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Critical Review of Scientific Basis for Lowering Coal Mine Dust Exposure Level. iii. Exposure-Response Studies of Radiographic CWP

Gamble¹

2012

J Clinic Toxicol

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Implementation of the coal mine dust ("CMD") interim standard of 3.0 milligrams per cubic meter ("mg/m 3 ") in 1970 was reduced to 2.0 mg/m 3 in 1972 and produced a steady decline in dust levels and prevalence of coal workers pneumoconiosis ("CWP"). Beginning in the mid-1990s, an apparent increase was reported in what was thought to be severe and rapidly progressive CWP and PMF despite stability in CMD levels. These "sentinel health" events led to further investigation and stimulated the 2010 MSHA proposal to lower the current CMD standard from 2.0 mg/m 3 to 1.0 mg/m 3 . The purpose of this study is to summarize exposure-response associations between CMD and CWP to evaluate evidence for a revised standard.There are five cohorts of UK and US coalminers with exposure-response analyses useful for assessing a proposed coal mine dust standard. Two major biases confound such an evaluation. Exposure misclassification bias occurs for exposures occurring before standards and before sampling surveillance was initiated. This bias is most obvious in the US studies where sample results collected after initiation of the standard were back-extrapolated to pre-standard time periods. The bias introduced produces a spurious steeper exposure-response slope due to overestimation of risk at higher exposure levels (>4 mg/m 3 ) and under-estimation of risk at lower exposures. Participation bias occurs in one of the US studies when survey participation rates dropped below 50% in rounds 1-4.Exposure-response evidence suggests a coal mine dust standard of 2 mg/m 3 appears to be protective from occurrence of CWP ≥2 for low rank coals. However there is excess CWP ≥2 in miners exposed to high rank coal, suggesting a lower exposure standard is needed to protect these miners.The next important study was in Raleigh County, WV in 1963 which established that CMD exposure was producing a high occurrence of CWP (46%)and PMF (7%) that was related to tenure [3]. This study led to a flurry of studies to document the prevalence of CWP in the US, UK and Germany.In the 1960s the Pennsylvania Board of Health found an increasing gradient of CWP from 11% in Western Pennsylvania to 35% in Central/ Eastern Pennsylvania [4][5][6]. In Appalachian counties nearly 10% of working miners (9% with PMF) and 18% of nonworking miners had CWP. The 1969-71 first round of the NIOSH NSCWP of 31 mines and over 9000 miners found a very high prevalence of CWP: 60% in anthracite coal, 30% in Appalachia, 25% in the Midwest, and 10.5% prevalence in Western coal.These high prevalences were thought to be in part attributable to the use of a new classification system and standard radiographic films for classifying chest x-rays for the pneumoconioses developed by the Union for International Cancer Control and the University of Cincinnati Radiology Department, referred to as the UICC/Cincinnati 1968 classification. CWP prevalence was markedly reduced in the

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Section: Critique Of Hurley Et Al [1011]mentioning

confidence: 84%

Section: Critique Of Attfield and Morring [19]mentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Exposure-response Studies Of Radiographic Cwp In the Us [18]mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Critique Of Attfield and Morring [18]mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, the authors advise caution in using the information in this report. (See [13] for comparison. )…”

Section: Critique Of Attfield and Morring [19]mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Critical Review of Scientific Basis for Lowering Coal Mine Dust Exposure Level. iii. Exposure-Response Studies of Radiographic CWP

Gamble¹

2012

J Clinic Toxicol

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Coal Dust

Blackley,

Halldin,

Hall

et al. 2023

Patty's Toxicology

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Coal is an organic, combustible, rock‐like natural substance that occurs in various forms from hard and brittle anthracite to soft and friable lignite. Coal mine dust often contains silica and other minerals found within the coal seam or in the adjacent strata. In the United States and other countries, coal miners are at risk of developing chronic lung diseases caused by cumulative exposure to respirable coal mine dust. These diseases can lead to significant lung function impairment, disability, and premature death. Collectively known as “black lung,” they include a spectrum of interstitial lung diseases including coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP), mixed dust pneumoconiosis, and dust‐related diffuse fibrosis as well as chronic airway diseases including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Since the late 1990s, the prevalence of CWP and its most severe form, progressive massive fibrosis, have increased in the United States, most notably in central Appalachia. Factors contributing to this resurgence might include thin‐seam coal mining and/or cutting rock to access coal seams, which likely exposes miners to respirable coal mine dust with a higher content of other hazardous dusts including silica and silicates. Many countries have occupational exposure limits for coal mine dust typically based on assessment of the mass of dust collected during a work shift.

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Coal

Attfield¹,

Castranova²,

Kuempel³

et al. 2012

Patty's Toxicology

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Coal is an organic, combustible, rock‐like natural substance that occurs in various forms from hard and brittle anthracite to soft and friable lignite. Coal mine dust often contains silica and other minerals found within the coal seam or in the adjacent strata. In the US and other countries, coal miners continue to be at risk of developing chronic lung diseases caused by cumulative exposure to respirable coal mine dust. These diseases can lead to significant lung function impairment, disability, and premature death. Collectively known as “Black Lung”, they include coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP), and its more advanced stage, progressive massive fibrosis (PMF), as well as chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD). Many countries have occupational exposure limits for coal mine dust typically based on assessment of the mass of dust collected during a work shift. Surface mining of coal has a considerable environmental impact on the landscape and can impact water supplies.

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Prevalence of pneumoconiosis and its relationship to dust exposure in a cohort of U.S. Bituminous coal miners and ex‐miners

Cited by 96 publications

References 12 publications

Critical Review of Scientific Basis for Lowering Coal Mine Dust Exposure Level. iii. Exposure-Response Studies of Radiographic CWP

Critical Review of Scientific Basis for Lowering Coal Mine Dust Exposure Level. iii. Exposure-Response Studies of Radiographic CWP

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