Pulmonary complications in lead miners

Journal Article · Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989 · Chest; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.96.1.18· OSTI ID:5695737

Masjedi, M R; Estineh, N; Bahadori, M; Alavi, M; Sprince, N L

We carried out a study to assess the prevalence of respiratory disease in lead miners and to investigate the roles of silica and lead. We used a questionnaire for symptoms and examinations for signs of respiratory disease, chest roentgenograms, and spirometric study in 45 lead miners. Six underwent bronchoscopy and transbronchial lung biopsy (TBB) and five lung lead analysis. Lung lead levels from five patients with no occupational lead exposure were obtained for comparison. Results showed restriction in five of 45 and reticulonodular opacities in 16 of 45 workers. Squamous metaplasia and other histopathologic changes were observed, although silicotic nodules were absent by TBB. Lung lead levels above those of control subjects were observed in four of five lead miners. These findings show that lead miners are at risk for lung disease. Although silica is a likely cause, elevated lung lead content found in these miners merits further investigation.

• Research Organization: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5695737
• Journal Information: Chest; (United States), Vol. 96:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
LEAD
TOXICITY
LUNGS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
EPIDEMIOLOGY
SILICA
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOPSY
MAN
MINERS
MINING
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
RISK ASSESSMENT
ANIMALS
BODY
CHALCOGENIDES
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
ELEMENTS
MAMMALS
METALS
MINERALS
ORGANS
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERSONNEL
PRIMATES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
550900 - Pathology