skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Pneumoconiosis, lung function and exposure to airborne dust: epidemiological research to compare responses of working coalminers with responses of ex-miners

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5339062

Between 1953 and 1974 the Pneumoconiosis Field Research (PFR) of the National Coal Board, and latterly of the Institute of Occupational Medicine conducted a long term epidemiological study of the respiratory health of British coalminers at selected collieries, and compared changes in respiratory symptoms, chest radiographic appearances and lung function test with calculated individual cumulative dust exposures based on environmental monitoring in these pits. Estimates of the probability of developing pneumoconiosis during a working lifetime in various dust concentrations were calculated on which current dust standards are based. The present study was designed to compare the respiratory health of miners who left the industry with that of those who remained, and to study progression or regression of disease after dust exposure ceased.

Research Organization:
Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh (UK)
OSTI ID:
5339062
Report Number(s):
PB-84-114081
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English