Silicosis mortality trends and new exposures to respirable crystalline silica - United States, 2001-2010.

Silicosis is a preventable occupational lung disease caused by the inhalation of respirable crystalline silica dust and can progress to respiratory failure and death. No effective specific treatment for silicosis is available; patients are provided supportive care, and some patients may be considered for lung transplantation. Chronic silicosis can develop or progress even after occupational exposure has ceased.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in nonsmokers by occupation and exposure: a brief review.

Purpose Of Review: This review gives an overview on recent reports of various occupations associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and exposures to associate with COPD among nonsmokers.

Recent Findings: Recent research has focused on identifying occupations with increased risk of COPD and exposures associated with COPD among nonsmokers based on national health survey data in the United States and studies in other countries. Recently reported prevalence of COPD among nonsmokers was 2.

Prevalence of obesity by occupation among US workers: the National Health Interview Survey 2004-2011.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of obesity and the change of prevalence of obesity between 2004-2007 and 2008-20011 by occupation among US workers in the National Health Interview Survey.

Methods: Self-reported weight and height were collected and used to assess obesity (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m). Gender-, race/ethnicity-, and occupation-specific prevalence of obesity were calculated.

Diseases attributable to asbestos exposure: years of potential life lost, United States, 1999-2010.

Background: Although asbestos use has been restricted in recent decades, asbestos-associated deaths continue to occur in the United States.

Objectives: We evaluated premature mortality and loss of potentially productive years of life attributable to asbestos-associated diseases.

Methods: Using 1999-2010 National Center for Health Statistics mortality data, we identified decedents aged ≥25 years whose death certificate listed asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma as the underlying cause of death.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease prevalence among nonsmokers by occupation in the United States.

Objective: To examine the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among nonsmokers by occupation in the United States.

Methods: The 1997 to 2004 National Health Interview Survey data for working adults aged 25 years or more were used to estimate the COPD prevalence and to examine change in COPD prevalence between 1997 to 2000 and 2001 to 2004 by occupational groups.

Results: During 1997 to 2004, COPD prevalence was 2.

Associations between Psychological Distress and Body Mass Index among Law Enforcement Officers: The National Health Interview Survey 2004-2010.

Objectives: To investigate the association between psychological distress and obesity among law enforcement officers (LEOs) in the United States.

Methods: Self-reported data on psychological distress based on six key questions were obtained from LEOs who participated in the National Health Interview Survey (2004-2010). We used Prochaska's cut-point of a Kessler 6 score ≥ 5 for moderate/high mental distress in our analysis.

Silicosis mortality with respiratory tuberculosis in the United States, 1968-2006.

The presence of tuberculosis (TB) in patients with silicosis increases mortality risk. To characterize silicosis-respiratory TB comortality in the United States, the authors used 1968-2006 National Center for Health Statistics multiple cause-of-death data for decedents aged ≥25 years. The authors calculated proportionate mortality ratios (PMRs) using available information on decedents' industries and occupations reported from 26 states from 1985 through 1999.

Prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the U.S. working population: an analysis of data from the 1997-2004 National Health Interview Survey.

To estimate the prevalence and the population attributable fraction of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the U.S. adult workers, we analyzed data obtained from the National Health Interview Surveys for the period 1997-2004.

Prevalence of lifetime asthma and current asthma attacks in U.S. working adults: an analysis of the 1997-2004 National Health Interview Survey data.

Objective: To estimate national prevalences of lifetime asthma and asthma attacks among workers by age, sex, race, occupation and industry, and estimate population attributable fraction to employment for asthma attacks in the United States.

Methods: The 1997-2004 National Health Interview Survey data for currently working adults aged > or = 18 years were analyzed.

Results: Lifetime asthma prevalence was 9.

Respirator use and practices in agricultural crop production establishments.

The risk of developing respiratory diseases can be reduced by either wearing respiratory protection under the guidance of an effective respiratory protection program or using controls. In 2001, the Survey of Respirator Use and Practices gathered information on the types of respirators used, respirator use practices, and the respirator program characteristics from 40,002 randomly selected US establishments. This report presents findings of the Survey of Respirator Use and Practices for the Agricultural Production-Crops industry and compares them with National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommendations.

Respiratory disease in agricultural workers: mortality and morbidity statistics.

To quantify the respiratory disease burden among agricultural workers, we examined the 1988-1998 National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) "Multiple Cause of Death Data" and the 1988-1994 Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data (NHANES III). Proportionate mortality ratios (PMRs) were determined for 11 respiratory conditions among 6 agricultural groups: crop farm workers, livestock farm workers, farm managers, landscape and horticultural workers, forestry workers, and fishery workers. Prevalence ratios (PRs) were determined for 12 respiratory conditions among 3 agricultural groups: farm workers, farm managers, and other agricultural workers.

Asbestosis mortality surveillance in the United States, 1970-2004.

To describe the demographic, geographic, and occupational distribution of asbestosis mortality in the United States during 1970-2004, we identified a total of 25,413 asbestosis deaths. We calculated national, state, and county death rates, age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S.

National trends in silicosis mortality in the United States, 1981-2004.

Background: This article describes trends in mortality with silicosis and identifies industries and occupations with elevated silicosis mortality.

Methods: A total of 6,326 deaths with silicosis for 1981-2004 were analyzed for trends and association with occupation and industry. Annual mortality rates were age-adjusted to the U.

Medical fitness evaluation for respirator users: results of a national survey of private sector employers.

Objective: To provide information on medical evaluation procedures for respirator use in private sector establishments.

Methods: In 2001, data on respirator use and practices were collected in a survey of private sector establishments.

Results: Of establishments where respirators were required, 46% did not evaluate employees' medical fitness.

Twenty-three years of hypersensitivity pneumonitis mortality surveillance in the United States.

Background: There are few population-based studies addressing hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) in the United States. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has nationally comprehensive longitudinal mortality data that can contribute to a better understanding of the epidemiology of HP.

Methods: The National Center for Health Statistics multiple cause-of-death data were analyzed for the period 1980-2002.

Malignant mesothelioma mortality in the United States, 1999-2001.

Malignant mesothelioma is strongly associated with asbestos exposure. This paper describes demographic, geographic, and occupational distributions of mesothelioma mortality in the United States, 1999-2001. The data (n = 7,524) were obtained from the National Center for Health Statistics multiple-cause-of-death records.

Prevalence of asthma by industry in the US population: a study of 2001 NHIS data.

Background: The estimated number of US workers potentially exposed to asthmagens ranges from 8 to 20 million. This study was undertaken to estimate the US prevalence of asthma in adults by industry of employment and to identify industries with elevated risk of asthma.

Methods: Prevalence analysis was performed on 20,991 adults, 18 years of age and older who participated in the 2001 National Health Interview survey.

A survey of private sector respirator use in the United States: an overview of findings.

Limitations of previous surveys of respirator use led the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics to undertake a survey of respirator use and practices among U.S. private sector employers.

Malignant mesothelioma surveillance: a comparison of ICD 10 mortality data with SEER incidence data in nine areas of the United States.

With the implementation in 1999 of ICD-10 death certificate coding in the United States, mortality data specific to malignant mesothelioma became readily available on a national basis. To evaluate the accuracy and completeness of diagnosis and coding for mesothelioma on the death certificate, mortality information was compared with incidence data. A mortality/incidence ratio was calculated for each of the nine areas covered by the SEER Program, using National Vital Statistics mortality data from 1999 and 2000, and the SEER incidence data for 1998 and 1999.

Airflow obstruction attributable to work in industry and occupation among U.S. race/ethnic groups: a study of NHANES III data.

Objectives: To estimate the fraction of airflow obstruction attributable to workplace exposure by U.S. race/ethnic group.

Association between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and employment by industry and occupation in the US population: a study of data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Data from the US population-based Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, conducted from 1988 to 1994, were used to estimate the population prevalence, prevalence odds ratios, and attributable fractions for the association of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with employment by industry and occupation. The aim was to identify industries and occupations at increased risk of COPD. COPD was defined as forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1))/forced vital capacity <70% and FEV(1 )<80% predicted.