Occupational Safety and Health of Women in Mining.

The mining industry plays a critical role in the U.S. economy, with active mines in every state producing materials such as those used to construct houses and roads, make medicines, and manufacture cars and electronics.

Increased odds of mortality from non-malignant respiratory disease and lung cancer are highest among US coal miners born after 1939.

Objectives: Coal miners suffer increased mortality from non-malignant respiratory diseases (NMRD), including pneumoconioses and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, compared with the US population. We characterised mortality trends from NMRD, lung cancer and ischaemic heart disease (IHD) using data from the Federal Black Lung Program, National Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program and the National Death Index.

Methods: We compared mortality ORs (MORs) for NMRD, lung cancer and IHD in former US coal miners to US white males.

Postexposure progression of pneumoconiosis among former Appalachian coal miners.

Background: The prevalence of pneumoconiosis among working United States underground coal miners has been increasing for the past two decades, with the highest rates of disease observed among miners in the central Appalachian states of Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia. Surveillance for this disease in the United States focuses on working coal miners, who continue to be occupationally exposed to dust. This study examines the radiographic evidence for postexposure progression of pneumoconiosis in a population of former coal miners no longer occupationally exposed to coal mine dust who were seen at a community radiology clinic in eastern Kentucky.

Respiratory health of American Indian and Alaska Native coal miners participating in the Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program, 2014-2019.

Background: In 2014, a federal rule reduced occupational exposure limits to coal mine dust and expanded medical surveillance eligibility beyond underground miners to surface and contract coal miners. This expansion may have provided an opportunity for more American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) coal miners to participate in screening, since many surface coal mines are located near AI/AN communities and may employ AI/AN miners. Therefore we sought to better understand the respiratory health of AI/AN coal miners by characterizing prevalence of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP), progressive massive fibrosis (PMF), and abnormal lung function in this population.

Electronic Health Records and Pulmonary Function Data: Developing an Interoperability Roadmap. An Official American Thoracic Society Workshop Report.

A workshop "Electronic Health Records and Pulmonary Function Data: Developing an Interoperability Roadmap" was held at the American Thoracic Society 2019 International Conference. "Interoperability" is defined as is the ability of different information-technology systems and software applications to directly communicate, exchange data, and use the information that has been exchanged. At present, pulmonary function test (PFT) equipment is not required to be interoperable with other clinical data systems, including electronic health records (EHRs).

Assessment of pneumoconiosis in surface coal miners after implementation of a national radiographic surveillance program, United States, 2014-2019.

Background: Pneumoconiosis can occur in surface coal miners. The Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program (CWHSP) has only included surface coal miners as part of its regular disease surveillance since 2014. This analysis identifies the prevalence of pneumoconiosis among working surface coal miners participating in the CWHSP since their initial inclusion, through 2019.

Transplantation for work-related lung disease in the USA.

Objectives: Work-related lung diseases (WRLDs) are entirely preventable. To assess the impact of WRLDs on the US transplant system, we identified adult lung transplant recipients with a WRLD diagnosis specified at the time of transplant to describe demographic, payer and clinical characteristics of these patients and to assess post-transplant survival.

Methods: Using US registry data from 1991 to 2018, we identified lung transplant recipients with WRLDs including coal workers' pneumoconiosis, silicosis, asbestosis, metal pneumoconiosis and berylliosis.

Pneumoconiosis progression patterns in US coal miner participants of a job transfer programme designed to prevent progression of disease.

Objectives: Pneumoconiosis prevalence and severity among US coal miners has been increasing for the past 20 years. An examination of the current approaches to primary and secondary prevention efforts is warranted. One method of secondary prevention is the Mine Safety and Health Administration-administered part 90 option programme where US coal miners with radiographic evidence of pneumoconiosis can exercise their right to be placed in a less dusty area of the mine.

Prevalence of spirometry-defined airflow obstruction in never-smoking working US coal miners by pneumoconiosis status.

Introduction: This study estimated the prevalence of spirometry-defined airflow obstruction and coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) among never-smoking coal miners participating in the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program (CWHSP).

Methods: Data were from working miners screened by a CWHSP mobile unit who had valid spirometry and chest radiography results. Spirometry-defined airflow obstruction was determined when the ratio of forced expiratory volume in the first second to forced vital capacity is less than the lower limit of normal.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health B Reader Certification Program-An Update Report (1987 to 2018) and Future Directions.

Objective: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) B Reader Program provides the opportunity for physicians to demonstrate proficiency in the International Labour Office (ILO) system for classifying radiographs of pneumoconioses. We summarize trends in participation and examinee attributes and performance during 1987 to 2018.

Methods: Since 1987, NIOSH has maintained details of examinees and examinations.

Current Review of Pneumoconiosis Among US Coal Miners.

Purpose Of Review: This review summarizes recent research on pneumoconiosis in coal workers following the identification of the resurgence of this disease among US coal miners in the early 2000s. We describe the impact of this research and how this has led to increased public attention, benefitting affected miners.

Recent Findings: The latest research shows that the prevalence of pneumoconiosis, including progressive massive fibrosis, continues to increase, especially in central Appalachia.

Patterns of progressive massive fibrosis on modern coal miner chest radiographs.

Clinical teaching generally asserts that large opacities of progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) on chest radiographs present primarily bilaterally in the upper lung zones, and with an elevated background profusion of small opacities. However, the contemporary basis for these descriptions is limited.Radiographs taken for the Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program during 2000-2015 and previously determined to have large opacities ("PMF radiographs",  = 204), and a random sample previously deemed free of large opacities ( =22), were independently reevaluated by three National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) B Readers.

Continued increase in prevalence of r-type opacities among underground coal miners in the USA.

Introduction: Respirable crystalline silica exposure has been implicated in the resurgence of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) in the USA. A 2010 report found an increasing prevalence of r-type opacities, which are associated with silicosis lung pathology, on the radiographs of working underground coal miners in central Appalachia. This analysis updates that report by assessing the prevalence of r-type opacities during 2010-2018 compared with earlier decades.

Work Practices and Respiratory Health Status of Appalachian Coal Miners With Progressive Massive Fibrosis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to characterize workplace practices and respiratory health among coal miners with large opacities consistent with progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) who received care at a federally funded black lung clinic network in Virginia.

Methods: Participants were interviewed about their workplace practices and respiratory health. Medical records were reviewed.

Progressive Massive Fibrosis Resurgence Identified in U.S. Coal Miners Filing for Black Lung Benefits, 1970-2016.

Rationale: There has been a resurgence of progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) in the United States, particularly among central Appalachian miners.

Objectives: We characterized the proportion of PMF among former U.S.

Continued Increase in Prevalence of Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis in the United States, 1970-2017.

Objectives: To update prevalence estimates for coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) among working underground coal miners in the United States.

Methods: We conducted a prevalence study using radiographs collected from 1970 to 2017. We classified each radiograph using international standards.

Continued increase in lung transplantation for coal workers' pneumoconiosis in the United States.

Background: Severe coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) is increasingly common, and sometimes requires lung transplantation.

Methods: Using Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network data, we updated the trend for CWP-related lung transplants, described CWP patients who have been waitlisted but not transplanted, and characterized the primary payer of medical costs for CWP-related and other occupational lung disease transplants.

Results: There have been at least 62 CWP-related lung transplants; 49 (79%) occurred in the last decade.

Interstitial Lung Diseases in the U.S. Mining Industry: Using MSHA Data to Examine Trends and the Prevention Effects of Compliance with Health Regulations, 1996-2015.

Given the recent increase in dust-induced lung disease among U.S. coal miners and the respiratory hazards encountered across the U.

Progressive Massive Fibrosis in Coal Miners From 3 Clinics in Virginia.

This study describes the demographic and radiographic characteristics of 416 coal miners with progressive massive pulmonary fibrosis (PMF) identified by pneumoconiosis screening as part of the US Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program.

Coal miner participation in a job transfer program designed to prevent progression of pneumoconiosis, United States, 1986-2016.

The Part 90 program was designed to prevent progression of pneumoconiosis in U.S. coal miners by establishing their right to transfer to a less dusty job in the mine.

Radiographic features of importance in the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health-administered Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program: characterising the use of the 'other symbols'.

Objective: The National Institute for Occupation Safety and Health-administered Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program (CWHSP) provides radiographic pneumoconiosis screening for US coal miners. Radiographs are classified by readers according to International Labour Office criteria. In addition to pneumoconiotic parenchymal and pleural lung abnormalities, readers document radiographic features of importance (other symbols).

Linking Compensation and Health Surveillance Data Sets to Improve Knowledge of US Coal Miners' Health.

Objective: Increase knowledge of US coal miners' respiratory health by linking data from the black lung benefits program (BLBP) and the coal workers' health surveillance program (CWHSP).

Methods: BLBP claims data from 2000 through 2013 was linked to CWHSP data from 1970 through 2016.

Results: Overall, 273,644 miners participated in CWHSP, 37,548 in BLBP, and 22,903 in both programs.

Evaluation of high blood pressure and obesity among US coal miners participating in the Enhanced Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program.

Since 2005, the Enhanced Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program (ECWHSP) has offered respiratory examinations to coal miners in a mobile examination unit. As little is known about the cardiovascular health of coal miners, we describe the prevalence of high blood pressure (BP) and obesity among ECWHSP participants. During 2015, 1402 ECWHSP health examinations were performed.

Respiratory morbidity among U.S. coal miners in states outside of central Appalachia.

Background: Recent NIOSH publications have focused on the respiratory health of coal miners in central Appalachia, yet 57% of U.S. coal miners work in other regions.