Pathology and mineralogy demonstrate respirable crystalline silica is a major cause of severe pneumoconiosis in US coal miners
September 24, 2021
Rationale: The reasons for resurgent coal workers’ pneumoconiosis and its most severe forms, rapidly progressive pneumoconiosis and progressive massive fibrosis (PMF), in the United States (US) are not yet fully understood. Objective: To compare the pathologic and mineralogic features of contemporary coal miners suffering severe pneumoconiosis to their historical counterparts. Methods: Lung pathology specimens from 85 coal miners with PMF were included for evaluation and analysis. We compared the proportion of cases with pathologic and mineralogic findings in miners born between 1910 and 1930 (historical) to those born in or after 1930 (contemporary). Results: We found a significantly higher proportion of silica-type PMF (57% vs. 18%, p
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Title | Pathology and mineralogy demonstrate respirable crystalline silica is a major cause of severe pneumoconiosis in US coal miners |
| DOI | 10.1513/AnnalsATS.202109-1064OC |
| Authors | R. Cohen, Cecil Rose, L. Go, Lauren Zell-Baran, K. Almberg, Emily Sarver, Heather Lowers, C. Iwaniuk, S. Clingerman, D. Richardson, J.L. Abraham, Carlyne Cool, A. Franko, A.F. Hubbs, J. Murray, M.S. Orandle, S. Sanyal, N.I. Vorajee, E.L. Petsonk, R. Zulfikar, F.H. Green |
| Publication Type | Article |
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Series Title | Annals of the American Thoracic Society |
| Index ID | 70230597 |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center |