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Prevalence of occupational lung disease in a random sample of former mineworkers, Libode district, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Author(s) -
Trapido Anna S.,
Mqoqi Nokuzola P.,
Williams Brian G.,
White Neil W.,
Solomon Albert,
Goode Richard H.,
Macheke Cecil M.,
Davies Anthony J.,
Panter Clifford
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199810)34:4<305::aid-ajim2>3.0.co;2-r
Subject(s) - pneumoconiosis , medicine , occupational disease , spirometry , silicosis , occupational lung disease , incidence (geometry) , environmental health , workers' compensation , demography , occupational exposure , asthma , compensation (psychology) , pathology , psychology , physics , sociology , psychoanalysis , optics
Background Gold mineworkers in South Africa are exposed to high levels of silica dust as a result of which they are at risk of developing silicosis, which is a compensable disease. The incidence of tuberculosis is also high. Methods To determine the prevalence of occupational lung disease and the previous compensation history in former migrant mineworkers, a study was undertaken in a random sample of men living in Libode, a rural district of Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Two hundred thirty‐eight ex‐mineworkers were examined according to a protocol that included chest radiography and spirometry. Chest radiographs were read into the International Labour Organisation (ILO) classification for pneumoconioses by two readers. Results The mean age was 52.8 years, and the mean length of service was 12.15 years. The prevalence of pneumoconiosis (≥ILO 1/0) was 22% and 36% (variation by reader). For both readers, a significant association between length of service and pneumoconiosis and between pneumoconiosis and reduction in FVC and FEV was found. Twenty‐four percent of study subjects were eligible for compensation. Conclusion There is a high prevalence of previously undiagnosed, uncompensated pneumoconiosis in the study group. As a result of the failure to diagnose and compensate occupational lung disease, the social and economic burden of such disease is being borne by individuals, households, and the migrant labor‐sending communities as a whole. Am. J. Ind. Med. 34:305–313, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.