RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Silicosis in surface coalmine drillers.
JF Thorax
JO Thorax
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Thoracic Society
SP 275
OP 278
DO 10.1136/thx.38.4.275
VO 38
IS 4
A1 Banks, D E
A1 Bauer, M A
A1 Castellan, R M
A1 Lapp, N L
YR 1983
UL http://thorax.bmj.com/content/38/4/275.abstract
AB Surface coalminers are generally thought to be at minimal risk of developing pneumoconiosis. Biopsy-proved silicoproteinosis was found in a 34-year-old surface coalmine driller, and two of nine other drill crew members who worked for the same company had chest radiographic findings compatible with simple silicosis. Reanalysis of data from a previous United States Public Health Service survey of surface coalminers, after exclusion of those with underground mining experience, showed that 38% of the cases of pneumoconiosis occurred in drill crew members, a group comprising only 11% of the study population. On the basis of these data surface coalmine drillers appear to have an increased risk of developing occupational lung disease.