Small mine size is associated with lung function abnormality and pneumoconiosis among underground coal miners in Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia

• Published in: Occupational and environmental medicine (London, England) Vol. 71; no. 10; pp. 690 - 694
• Main Authors: Blackley, David J, Halldin, Cara N, Wang, Mei Lin, Laney, A Scott
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group 01.10.2014; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Abnormalities; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Body mass index; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Coal; Coal industry; Coal mines; Coal Mining; Disease; Dust; Female; Health; Humans; Inorganic dusts (pneumoconiosises) and organic dusts (byssinosis etc.); Kentucky - epidemiology; Lung diseases; Lungs; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miners; Mines; Mining; Mining accidents & safety; Occupational medicine; Occupational safety; Pneumoconiosis; Pneumoconiosis - epidemiology; Pneumoconiosis - physiopathology; Public health; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Radiography; Regression analysis; Respiratory diseases; Respiratory function; Smoking - epidemiology; Spirometry; Studies; Surface mining; Surveillance; Toxicology; Underground mines; Virginia - epidemiology; West Virginia - epidemiology; Working conditions; Workplace; Young Adult; West Virginia; United States; North America; Virginia; America; Kentucky; United States > US; USA, West Virginia; ANW, USA, Virginia; USA, Kentucky; Human; Lung disease; Lung function; Pneumoconiosis; Respiratory disease; Coal mine; Toxicity; Size; Underground mining; Occupational exposure; Epidemiology; Occupational medicine

Objectives To describe the prevalence of lung function abnormality and coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP) by mine size among underground coal miners in Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia. Methods During 2005–2012, 4491 miners completed spirometry and chest radiography as part of a health surveilla...