Pneumoconiosis among underground bituminous coal miners in the United States: is silicosis becoming more frequent? | Occupational & Environmental Medicine

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Pneumoconiosis among underground bituminous coal miners in the United States: is silicosis becoming more frequent?

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Consider Hours Worked
James L Weeks
Published on: 29 October 2009

Published on: 29 October 2009
Consider Hours Worked
- James L Weeks, Industrial Hygienist
To the Editor:
Laney, et al. [1] provide important and compelling insight to potential causes of the unexpected occurrence of progressive massive fibrosis among underground coal miners in some areas of the U.S. Based on the occurrence of “r” opacities in these films, exposure to quartz is the likely cause. This conclusion is supported by an exposure assessment that shows elevated exposure to quartz dust in area...
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To the Editor:
Laney, et al. [1] provide important and compelling insight to potential causes of the unexpected occurrence of progressive massive fibrosis among underground coal miners in some areas of the U.S. Based on the occurrence of “r” opacities in these films, exposure to quartz is the likely cause. This conclusion is supported by an exposure assessment that shows elevated exposure to quartz dust in area mines.[2] However, there is an increase in the prevalence of CWP that extends beyond these areas and that includes CWP in lower categories [3] and that may have different causes.
Laney et al.[1] suggest that an increase in hours worked may contribute to the increase in the prevalence of CWP. I agree. More important, data to support this suggestion exist. Mine operators report to MSHA hours worked and average number of workers per quarter [4]. From these reports, one can easily calculate hours worked per miner. Based on these data, annual hours worked per underground miner increased from an average of about 1700 hours per year in 1982 to about 2200 hours per year in 2006, an increase of nearly 30%. These measures, and measures of dust concentration, are available for each mine since the early 1970’s. They could and should be combined to revise estimates of miners’ exposure in relation to the occurrence of CWP and thereby evaluate this suggestion. Clearly, a complete understanding of exposure is important for preventing CWP. Laney et al. [1] have identified an important cause. And as they suggest, there is more to do.
James L. Weeks, ScD, CIH Industrial Hygiene Consultant to the United Mine Workers of America
1. Laney AS, Petsonk EL and Attfield MD. Pneumoconiosis among underground bituminous coal miners in the United States: Is silicosis becoming more frequent? Occ Enviro Med. Published online 22 Sep 2009.
2. Pollock DE, Potts JD and Joy GJ. Investigation into dust exposure and mining practices in the Southern Appalachian Region. (ND) (October 28,2009). (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pdfs/iidea.pdf)
3. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Work- related lung disease surveillance report 2007. (October 28, 2009). (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2008-143/)
4. (October 28, 2009). ( http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/statistics)
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Conflict of Interest:
None declared.
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