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Characterization of Silica in the Lungs of Autopsied Coal Miners.

PB89187942

Publication Date	1989
Page Count	45
Abstract	A two-part study was conducted to investigate silica in lungs of coal miners at autopsy. The prevalence of silicosis at death in coal miners in relation to mining and job categories was investigated in the first part. Lung tissue sections submitted to the National Coal Workers Autopsy Study (NCWAS) for the period 1971 through 1980 were assessed for the presence of silicotic lesions in the pulmonary parenchyma and tracheobronchial lymph nodes. Silicosis usually occurred against a background of coal workers' pneumoconiosis; only 7.2% of lungs without coal workers' pneumoconiosis showed silicosis. Transportation workers showed the highest prevalence of silicosis, while workers primarily engaged in surface activities at underground mines have the lowest prevalence. Geographical area affected the prevalence of silicosis. The number of years spent in underground mining was found to be clearly correlated with prevalence and severity of silicosis. The second part studied the particle size distributions and number of particules in coal miners' lungs. Particulate burdens were determined for lung specimens from 21 coal miners by scanning electron microscope based automated image analysis. Results were compared with those for urban dwellers. In spite of the specimens being chosen to represent a wide range of exposure and medical history, particle size data were similar.
Keywords	Industrial medicine Underground mining Silicosis Epidemiology Respiratory diseases Silicon dioxide Lung Pneumoconiosis Autopsy Coal miners Occupational safety and health Health hazards Air pollution effects(Humans) CAS 14808-60-7
Source Agency	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NTIS Subject Category	57U - Public Health & Industrial Medicine 48A - Mineral Industries 68A - Air Pollution & Control 41I - Job Environment 94D - Job Environment
Corporate Authors	National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH.
Document Type	Technical Report
Title Note	Final rept.
NTIS Issue Number	198916

Characterization of Silica in the Lungs of Autopsied Coal Miners.

Characterization of Silica in the Lungs of Autopsied Coal Miners.
PB89187942

Publication Date	1989
Page Count	45
Abstract	A two-part study was conducted to investigate silica in lungs of coal miners at autopsy. The prevalence of silicosis at death in coal miners in relation to mining and job categories was investigated in the first part. Lung tissue sections submitted to the National Coal Workers Autopsy Study (NCWAS) for the period 1971 through 1980 were assessed for the presence of silicotic lesions in the pulmonary parenchyma and tracheobronchial lymph nodes. Silicosis usually occurred against a background of coal workers' pneumoconiosis; only 7.2% of lungs without coal workers' pneumoconiosis showed silicosis. Transportation workers showed the highest prevalence of silicosis, while workers primarily engaged in surface activities at underground mines have the lowest prevalence. Geographical area affected the prevalence of silicosis. The number of years spent in underground mining was found to be clearly correlated with prevalence and severity of silicosis. The second part studied the particle size distributions and number of particules in coal miners' lungs. Particulate burdens were determined for lung specimens from 21 coal miners by scanning electron microscope based automated image analysis. Results were compared with those for urban dwellers. In spite of the specimens being chosen to represent a wide range of exposure and medical history, particle size data were similar.
Keywords	Industrial medicine Underground mining Silicosis Epidemiology Respiratory diseases Silicon dioxide Lung Pneumoconiosis Autopsy Coal miners Occupational safety and health Health hazards Air pollution effects(Humans) CAS 14808-60-7
Source Agency	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NTIS Subject Category	57U - Public Health & Industrial Medicine 48A - Mineral Industries 68A - Air Pollution & Control 41I - Job Environment 94D - Job Environment
Corporate Authors	National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH.
Document Type	Technical Report
Title Note	Final rept.
NTIS Issue Number	198916