Rapidly progressive coal workers’ pneumoconiosis in the United States: geographic clustering and other factors

Antao, Vinicius C.; Petsonk, Edward L.; Sokolow, Leslie Z.; Wolfe, Anita L.; Pinheiro, Germania A.; Hale, Janet M.; Attfield, Michael D.

doi:10.1136/oem.2004.019679

Cited by 141 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…1 Between 1970 and 1995, morbidity and mortality from CWP among United States miners improved greatly. 2,3 Nevertheless, in 2005, Antao and colleagues 4 described geographic clustering of rapidly progressive pneumoconiosis; and following that publication, an increase has been reported in the overall prevalence and severity of pneumoconiosis in US coal miners. 2,17 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Elevated proportions of both of these abnormalities generally seemed to cluster in coal mining areas in which rapidly progressive CWP was previously reported. 4 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2,3 In addition, for some coal miners who participated in surveillance between 1996 and 2002, serial CXR examinations showed that pneumoconiosis had progressed rapidly to advanced and lethal stages. 4 …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…5 The ECWHSP focused on geographic regions where rapidly progressive CWP had recently been observed, 4 as well as areas with lower participation in the ongoing CWXSP. In contrast to the CWXSP, which is limited to CXR examinations done at independent facilities arranged by coal mine operators, all the ECWHSP examinations are done in a mobile unit by NIOSH staff.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In light of the geographic clustering of rapidly progressive radiographic changes among underground coal miners, 4 we mapped results from the ECWHSP to display the concurrent county-based prevalences of abnormal spirometry results and radiographic pneumoconiosis. We sought to explore evidence for a geographic association between these two health outcomes, as well as to provide additional data in relation to the ongoing controversy concerning the relationship between simple CWP and lung impairment.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lung-Function Impairment Among US Underground Coal Miners, 2005 to 2009

Wang

Beeckman-Wagner

Wolfe

et al. 2013

Journal of Occupational &Amp; Environmental Medicine

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Objective To investigate contemporary geographic distributions of lung-function impairment and radiographic evidence of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) and their associations. Methods From 2005 to 2009, 6373 underground coal miners completed a health survey, including spirometry testing and chest radiography. Coal workers' pneumoconiosis and progressive massive fibrosis were determined by NIOSH B readers, using the International Labour Office classification. Prevalences of CWP and spirometry less than lower normal limits were mapped by county, and their associ ation assessed. Results The prevalences of abnormal spirometry results and CWP were 13.1% and 4.0%, respectively. Counties with elevated prevalences for both the outcomes were located in contiguous areas of southeastern Kentucky, western Virginia, southern West Virginia, and eastern Pennsylvania. Prevalence of abnormal spirometry results increases with increasing category of simple CWP and progressive massive fibrosis. Conclusions Abnormal spirometry in coal miners is associated with CWP; these two health outcomes have similar geographic distributions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Elevated proportions of both of these abnormalities generally seemed to cluster in coal mining areas in which rapidly progressive CWP was previously reported. 4 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lung-Function Impairment Among US Underground Coal Miners, 2005 to 2009

Wang

Beeckman-Wagner

Wolfe

et al. 2013

Journal of Occupational &Amp; Environmental Medicine

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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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Rapidly progressive coal workers’ pneumoconiosis in the United States: geographic clustering and other factors

Cited by 141 publications

References 9 publications

Lung-Function Impairment Among US Underground Coal Miners, 2005 to 2009

Lung-Function Impairment Among US Underground Coal Miners, 2005 to 2009

Coal Dust

Coal

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