Respirable coal dust exposure and respiratory symptoms in South-African coal miners: A comparison of current and ex-miners
- University of KwaZuluNatal, Congella (South Africa). Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine
Dose-response associations between respirable dust exposure and respiratory symptoms and between symptoms and spirometry outcomes among currently employed and formerly employed South-African coal miners were investigated. Work histories, interviews, and spirometry and cumulative exposure were assessed among 684 current and 212 ex-miners. Results: Lower prevalences of symptoms were found among employed compared with ex-miners. Associations with increasing exposure for symptoms of phlegm and past history of tuberculosis were observed, whereas other symptom prevalences were higher in the higher exposure categories. Symptomatic ex-miners exhibited lower lung-function compared to the nonsymptomatic. Compared with published data, symptoms rates were low in current miners but high in ex-miners. Although explanations could include the low prevalence of smoking and/or reporting/selection bias, a 'Survivor' and/or a 'hire' effect is more likely, resulting in an underestimation of the dust-related effect.
- OSTI ID:
- 20772542
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Vol. 48, Issue 6; ISSN 1076-2752
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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