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Respiratory morbidity among U.S. coal miners in states outside of central Appalachia
Author(s) -
Reynolds Laura E.,
Blackley David J.,
Laney Anthony S.,
Halldin Cara N.
Publication year - 2017
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/ajim.22727
Subject(s) - medicine , pneumoconiosis , appalachia , spirometry , coal , environmental health , coal mining , physical therapy , demography , asthma , pathology , geography , archaeology , paleontology , sociology , biology
Background Recent NIOSH publications have focused on the respiratory health of coal miners in central Appalachia, yet 57% of U.S. coal miners work in other regions. We characterized respiratory morbidity in coal miners from these regions. Methods Active coal miners working outside of central Appalachia who received chest radiographs and/or spirometry during 2005‐2015 were included. Chest radiographs were classified according to International Labour Office standards and spirometry was interpreted using the American Thoracic Society guidelines. Prevalence of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP) and abnormal spirometry were compared by region. Results A total of 103 (2.1%) miners had CWP. The eastern region had the highest prevalence (3.4%), followed by the western (1.7%), and interior (0.8%) regions. A total of 524 (9.3%) miners had abnormal spirometry. Conclusions CWP occurs in all U.S. coal mining regions. Prevalence of CWP was higher in the eastern region, but lower than levels reported in central Appalachia.