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Mining Publication: Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis Prevalence Disparity Between Australia and the United States
Keywords: Australia Coal workers pneumoconiosis Hazards and exposures United States
Original creation date: July 2012
Authors: G Joy, JF Colinet, DD Landen
Peer Reviewed Journal Article - July 2012
Download PDF Document (.9 MB)
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20041526
Min Eng 2012 Jul; 64(7):65-71
Although rates of pneumoconiosis in coal miners have declined substantially in the United States since the passage of the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969, new cases continue to occur, including cases of rapidly progressive disease. In contrast, Australia’s underground coal mining industry has reported few new cases of pneumoconiosis for more than 20 years. Mortality from coal workers’ pneumoconiosis in official health statistics and the prevalence of pneumoconiosis among miners screened in X-ray surveillance programs are also lower in Australia. The U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) was requested by both industry and labor stakeholders to examine this issue, with the ultimate aim of reducing the rate of pneumoconiosis among U.S. coal miners. A number of factors, including coal dust exposure, silica exposure and coal rank were examined as potential contributors to the above noted differences. Comparison of coal rank data from each country did not illuminate the issue. Air sample data from the coal mining industries in both countries show that coal dust levels in Australian mines are somewhat higher than those reported in similar U.S. mines; however, quartz exposure for Australian miners is lower than for many U.S. miners. If quartz is contributing to the greater number of cases of pneumoconiosis in the United States, more effective dust control measures, as well as an independent exposure standard for respirable quartz in coal mining, should be implemented to reduce this potentially disabling condition.
Screen shot of first page of journal articlePeer Reviewed Journal Article - July 2012
Download PDF Document (.9 MB)
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20041526
Min Eng 2012 Jul; 64(7):65-71
See Also
Bag and Belt Cleaner Reduces Employee Dust Exposure
Characterizing Exposures to Airborne Metals and Nanoparticle Emissions in a Refinery
Control of Respirable Dust
Methane Emission from U.S. Coal Mines in 1975, A Survey : A Supplement to Information Circulars 8558 and 8659
Methane Emission from U.S. Coal Mines, A Survey
Recent Developments in Coal Mining Safety in the United States
The Status of Mine Fire Research in the United States
Suggestion of a Cause-and-Effect Relationship Among Coal Rank, Airborne Dust, and Incidence of Workers' Pneumoconiosis
Underground Coal Mining Disasters and Fatalities: United States, 1900-2006
Using Ventilation Control Technology to Reduce Respirable Dust Exposures at U.S. Metal/Nonmetal Mining Operations
Page last reviewed: October 27, 2016
Page last updated: October 24, 2012
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program
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