Analysis of Histopathological Findings of Lung Carcinoma in Czech Black Coal Miners in Association with Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis

Coal miners with coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP, J60 according to ICD-10) were previously found to have a significantly higher risk of lung carcinoma compared to the general male population. The presented study aimed to analyze the (i) incidence of lung carcinoma in miners, (ii) histopathological findings in cohorts with and without CWP, and (iii) effect of smoking cessation on the histopathological profile. Analyzed cohorts consisted of miners with (n = 3476) and without (n = 6687) CWP. Data on personal and working history obtained from the medical records were combined with information on lung cancer from the Czech Oncological Register and histopathological findings. Statistical analysis was performed using non-parametric tests and the incidence risk ratio at the significance level of 5%. In 1992–2015, 180 miners (2.7%) without CWP and 169 (4.9%) with CWP, respectively, were diagnosed with lung carcinoma. The risk of lung cancer in miners with CWP was 1.82 (95% CI: 1.48–2.25) times higher than in those without CWP. Squamous cell carcinoma (37%) was the most common histopathological type, followed by adenocarcinoma (22%) and small cell carcinoma (21%). A statistically significant difference between the cohorts (p = 0.003) was found in the histopathological subtypes, with the incidence of small cell carcinoma being 2 times higher in miners without CWP than in those with CWP. Only a few individuals with lung carcinoma were non-smokers. The incidence of small cell carcinoma, which is strongly associated with smoking, is significantly higher in miners without CWP. Smoking constitutes the most important risk factor for developing lung carcinoma even in that cohort. However, CWP remains a very important risk factor.

An analysis of contributing mining factors in coal workers’ pneumoconiosis prevalence in the United States coal mines, 1986–2018

In the United States, an unexpected and severe increase in coal miners’ lung diseases in the late 1990s prompted researchers to investigate the causes of the disease resurgence. This study aims to scrutinize the effects of various mining parameters, including coal rank, mine size, mine operation type, coal seam height, and geographical location on the prevalence of coal worker's pneumoconiosis (CWP) in surface and underground coal mines. A comprehensive dataset was created using the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) Employment and Accident/Injury databases. The information was merged based on the mine ID by utilizing SQL data management software. A total number of 123,589 mine-year observations were included in the statistical analysis. Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) model was used to conduct a statistical analysis on a total of 29,707, and 32,643 mine-year observations for underground and surface coal mines, respectively. The results of the econometrics approach revealed that coal workers in underground coal mines are at a greater risk of CWP comparing to those of surface coal operations. Furthermore, underground coal mines in the Appalachia and Interior regions are at a higher risk of CWP prevalence than the Western region. Surface coal mines in the Appalachian coal region are more likely to CWP development than miners in the Western region. The analysis also indicated that coal workers working in smaller mines are more vulnerable to CWP than those in large mine sizes. Furthermore, coal workers in thin-seam underground mine operations are more likely to develop CWP.

OCCUPATIONAL MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY AMONG COAL WORKERS AND MINING COMMUNITIES PROXIMATE TO COAL MINING AREAS- A CASE STUDY OF JAINTIA HILLS DISTRICT IN MEGHALAYA

The coal sector of Meghalaya provides the rural people and migrants the means of livelihood. It is an artisanal and small-scale mining which obtain minerals illegally. The present study examines the working conditions and conditions of work of coal workers at the mines which endangers the lives of miners daily. The researcher conducted a household survey with a total sample size of 180 households. Data were collected at the household and individual level surveyed from different coal bearing villages. The problems of environmental degradation are a growing concern to the mined and unmined areas yet on the other side the more complex effects are that unscientific mining is also inextricably associated to different health hazards. The result shows that most mining households with 53% performed work at very deep underground pits of a depth higher than 121 feet below the ground level and 46% of the households reveals to have work in narrow rat holes which are dug horizontally and the distance of its ranging from 1000-1500 metres. Meanwhile the illegal activity pushes to continue extraction into the remote pristine forests which are far from government hospitals, schools, have no transportation service and complete absence of work safety conduct. KEYWORDS: Informal mining, coal workers, rat-hole mines, mortality, morbidity, health conditions, Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya.

An Analysis of Contributing Mining Factors in Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis Prevalence in the United States Coal Mines, 1986-2018

In the United States, an unexpected and severe increase in coal miners’ lung diseases in the late 1990s prompted researchers to investigate the causes of the disease resurgence. This study aims to scrutinize the effects of various mining parameters, including coal rank, mine size, mining method, coal seam height, and geographical location on the prevalence of CWP in surface and underground coal mines. A comprehensive dataset was created using the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) Employment and Accident/Injury databases. The information was merged based on the mine ID by utilizing SQL data management software. A total number of 123,643 mine-year observations were included in the statistical analysis. Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) model was used to conduct a statistical analysis on a total of 29,707, and 32,643 mine-year observations for underground and surface coal mines, respectively. The results of the econometrics approach revealed that coal workers in underground coal mines are at a greater risk of CWP comparing to those of surface coal operations. Furthermore, underground coal mines in the Appalachia and Interior regions are at a higher risk of CWP prevalence than the Western region. Surface coal mines in the Appalachian coal region are more susceptible to CWP than miners in the Western region. The analysis also indicated that coal workers working in smaller mines are more vulnerable to CWP than those in large mine sizes. Furthermore, coal workers in thin-seam underground mine operations are more likely to develop CWP.

Characterization of Particulates from Australian Underground Coal Mines

The re-identification of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis in Queensland in 2015 has prompted improvements in exposure monitoring and health surveillance in Australia. The potential consequences of excessive exposure to respirable dust may depend upon the size, shape and mineralogical classes of the dust. Technology has now advanced to the point that the dust characteristics can be explored in detail. This research collected respirable dust samples from four operating underground coal mines in Australia for characterization analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). The research found multiple mineralogical classes present with their own particle size distributions. The variation between mines appears to have had a larger effect on particle size distribution than the differences in mining processes within individual mines. This may be due to variations in the geologic conditions, seam variation or mining conditions.