Hershey, Pa. --- New research finds that 9 percent of surface coal miners in the bituminous coal regions of western Pennsylvania have silicosis. The study also found that of surface coal miners who worked as drillers more than 20 years, 61 percent had silicosis.
The research titled, "Screening for Silicosis in Surface Coal Miners," was presented in April at the 1998 International Conference of the American Thoracic Society and the American Lung Association in Chicago, Ill., by John L. Stauffer, M.D., professor of medicine at Penn State's College of Medicine. Stauffer is also a pulmonary and critical care physician for the Penn State Geisinger Health System.
"In order to mine surface coal, workers have to go through a layer of soil and rock. As they blast and drill through this layer, miners are exposed to rock dust before they get to the coal," says Stauffer. "Fortunately, most of the abnormalities detected on the chest x-rays were in the very early stages. But we are concerned about those surface miners who could face the risk of progressive disease."
Silicosis is a chronic, incurable and potentially fatal lung disease caused by occupational exposure to inhaled silica dust. It is estimated there are about 3,300 surface miners of bituminous coal in western Pennsylvania. This research evaluated 667 surface miners who volunteered for the study. Each miner was given a chest X-ray and a breathing test, and answered questions related to demographics, medical and work histories, smoking behavior, respiratory symptoms, and safety awareness practices.
"Silicosis has killed more people in Pennsylvania than any other state. The results of this study demonstrate that silicosis is prevalent in surface coal miners in western Pennsylvania and suggest the need for increased environmental controls and safety practices to help reduce the risk of acquiring silicosis. This disease is preventable," states Stauffer. "Our results also make us concerned about silicosis in other surface workers, such as miners in the sand, stone, and gravel industries."
This study was funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Health Chronic Respiratory Disease Program.
Stauffer and his colleagues are also working on research that looks at the presence of silicosis in surface coal miners in the anthracite regions of northeast Pennsylvania.
Stauffer explains that this research study is a joint effort among several agencies including The Pennsylvania Department of Health, The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, The Mine Safety and Health Administration and the Departments of Medicine and Health Evaluation Sciences at Penn State's College of Medicine.
"The partnership of these organizations has been the essential ingredient in this research," adds Stauffer.