RESPIRATORY DISEASE IN SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA COAL MINERS

Abstract

A study was made of a random sample of bituminous coal miners and ex-miners, 45 to 58 years old, in a geographic unit in southern West Virginia stratified according to the years they worked underground. The prevalence of pneumoconiosis was 46%; of progressive massive fibrosis, 7%. The severity of pneumoconiosis was related to the number of years the men worked underground. There was no relation of pneumoconiosis to years they worked at the coal face in contrast to the total years of underground work; and pneumoconiosis, including progressive massive fibrosis, occurred among underground workers who had never worked at the coal face. There was a relationship between years worked underground and impairment of pulmonary function which could not be explained by age, smoking, or category of pneumoconiosis.