Exposure-response relationships for coal mine dust and obstructive lung disease following enactment of the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1992 · American Journal of Industrial Medicine; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.4700210511· OSTI ID:5060521

Seixas, N S; Robins, T G; Attfield, M D; Moulton, L H ^[1]

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1. Department of Environmental and Industrial Health, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (United States)

Underground U.S. coal miners were studied cross-sectionally for the association of respirable coal mine dust exposure with pulmonary function and symptoms of airways obstruction. The study group included 1,185 miners participating in Round 4 of the National Study of Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis who had started mining in or after 1970 when comprehensive exposure regulations first came into effect. Quantitative estimates of cumulative exposure, derived using respirable dust measurements taken by the Mine Safety and Health Administration over the entire study period, were used in linear and logistic regression models on indicators of pulmonary function and chest symptoms while controlling for smoking status, pack-years, and other potential confounders. Statistically significant associations between log cumulative exposure and decrements in FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC were observed. In logistic models, statistically significant associations of cumulative exposure with increasing prevalence of FEV1 and FEV1/FVC less than 80% predicted and symptoms including chronic phlegm, chronic bronchitis, breathlessness, wheeze, and wheeze with shortness of breath were found. It is concluded that exposures to respirable coal mine dust present in U.S. mines since 1970 continue to affect respiratory health in underground miners.

• OSTI ID: 5060521
• Journal Information: American Journal of Industrial Medicine; (United States), Journal Name: American Journal of Industrial Medicine; (United States) Vol. 21:5; ISSN 0271-3586; ISSN AJIMD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
016000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Health & Safety
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BRONCHITIS
COAL MINERS
COAL MINES
COAL MINING
DISEASES
DUSTS
EPIDEMIOLOGY
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MATHEMATICS
MINERS
MINES
MINING
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
PERSONNEL
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
STATISTICS
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES