[Analysis of early diagnosis and prevention techniques for occupational pneumoconiosis based on patent perspectives in China's coal industry]

Occupational pneumoconiosis in the coal industry is an occupational disease that seriously endangers coal miners' health. Early diagnosis and prevention techniques are significant in controlling its incidence rate and reducing its harm. This article takes the patent data related to the early diagnosis and prevention of occupational pneumoconiosis in the coal industry, published from 1985 to 2021, as the research object. It uses tools such as the Derwent Data Analyzer (DDA) software, the Patyee Database, and the PatSnap Database to analyze the technological development trend and characteristics in this field from aspects of growth trend, primary patent holders, IPC classification layout, value, and research and development hotspots. The results show that the number of patent applications in this field indicates a rapid growth trend, mainly in the hands of Shandong Energy Group Co. Ltd., Shandong University of Science and Technology, China University of Mining and Technology, and other institutions or enterprises. Patent technology mainly involves spray dust reduction, dust removal fans, dust masks, and other aspects with high patent value and innovation ability. This article provides a new perspective and reference for preventing, diagnosing, and treating occupational pneumoconiosis in the coal industry.

Epidemiology of silicosis reported to the central register of occupational diseases over last 20 years in Poland

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to investigate and assess the incidence of silicosis cases acknowledged as occupational diseases in Poland in 2000-2019.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The cases of all medically recognized pneumoconioses, including silicoses, certified as occupational diseases were studied. The records were extracted from the Central Register of Occupational Diseases, the only official Polish central electronic data base of occupational diseases.

RESULTS

During the period 2000-2019, 2066 confirmed cases of silicoses and 10 665 cases of other pneumoconioses including asbestosis and coal workers' pneumoconiosis were reported to the Central Register of Occupational Diseases. Silicoses accounted for 12.8-21.2% of all pneumoconioses. The number of confirmed silicoses cases was growing along with the length of latency period and was the highest for the period of ≥40 years (513 cases). Over 70% of silicoses cases occurred after occupational exposure >20 years. The most workers who evolved silicosis were employed in manufacturing, predominantly casting of iron, mining and quarrying and construction.

CONCLUSIONS

The number of confirmed cases of silicosis in Poland decreased in 2000-2019 but the disease still remains an important health problem. Prevention is crucial to reduce further disease incidence. The medical monitoring standards of exposed workers should be improved. Developing new diagnosing guidelines with the use of other imaging examinations, like high-resolution computed tomography, has to be considered. The analysis should contribute into the implementation of silicosis preventative programmes, both at the enterprise and national level. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2022;35(5):561-70.

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. We calculated the proportion of Part 90-eligible miners who participated during 1986-2016, examined participation by region, and compared characteristics of miners by participation status. Of the 3,547 eligible miners, 14.4% exercised their Part 90 option. Miners working in states outside central Appalachia, and those with more severe pneumoconiosis, were more likely to participate. The primary goal of respiratory health surveillance of coal miners is early detection of disease so that preventive action can be taken. Future studies should seek to better understand factors influencing Part 90 program participation.

Pneumoconiosis in different sectors and their differences in Turkey

INTRODUCTION

Pneumoconiosis which is one of the ancient diseases, still affects many workers throughout the world despite "existing" control programs. We add data from a single center reviewing risk factors for pneumoconiosis; evaluate functional and radiological findings in different sectors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We reviewed medical records of patients diagnosed with pneumoconiosis who were admitted to our center between the years 2013 and 2015. Several personal and occupational features, together with functional and radiologic data, were collected.

RESULT

60 were young males. Twenty-four of the cases (39.3%) worked at dental technician, 24 cases (39.3%) were ceramic workers, 5 cases (8.2%) were sandblasters, 2 cases (3.3%) were welders, 3 cases (4.9%) were miners, and 3 cases (4.9%) were marble cutters. The sectors in which the exposure started at the earliest ages were dental technicians and sandblasters, while the shortest working time was in sandblasting. The dental technicians were younger than the ceramic workers at the age of diagnosis (Kruskall-Wallis p= 0.003). The exposure time of the sandblasters was significantly shorter, especially than the ceramic workers (Kruskall-Wallis p= 0.002). The cases have been referred to us with pneumoconiosis suspicion based on the radiographic findings in the PA chest roentgenogram performed during the periodic examinations at their work place; but unlike other studies, in our study, following the HRCT assessment, cases which did not present any visible pathology in the re-evaluation of their PA chest roentgenogram, but had HRCT findings have been diagnosed as pneumoconiosis. Among the 44 cases in which micro-nodules had been detected at their HRCT, 15 of them had been previously classified as profusion of small opacities 0/1 according to their PA chest roentgenogram findings. It has been seen that the HRCT findings differ among sectors. Ceramics workers and sandblasters had significantly more micro-nodules, while dental technicians had significantly more mediastinal lymphadenopathies (Chi square, p= 0.004 and p= 0.007 respectively). When the relationship between the existence of big opacities and complaints was studied, statistically significant weight loss was detected in cases which had C opacities (chi square p= 0.01). Statistically significant FEV1 decrease was observed in cases which had weight loss (independent samples t-test p= 0.046). It has been observed that when the profusion of small opacities increased, while there was no statistically significant functional status change in non-smokers, a significant functional impairment was observed in smokers.

CONCLUSIONS

Pneumoconiosis still exists in Turkey. Even a short exposure time as 2 years can cause pneumoconiosis. Workers in different sectors had different functional, radiological properties and smoking can affect the diseases' course. There are serious limitations related to the surveillance of both the workplace environment and the employees' health in Turkey. Without institutional preventive measures, personal protection and surveillance examinations, occupational hazards will continue to cause premature deaths. Pneumoconiosis in different sectors is a prototype of uncontrolled industry in the developing world.

[FEDERAL CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES FOR THE DIAGNOSIS, PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF PNEUMOCONIOSIS]

The purpose of development of this clinical practice guidelines was to provide evidence-based protocols that help the practitioner and the patient make the right decision for the health assessment, treatment and prevention of pneumoconiosis. Pneumoconiosis is the interstitial lung disease of occupational origin caused by prolonged inhalation of inorganic dust, characterized by chronic diffuse aseptic inflammation in lung tissue with the development of pulmonary fibrosis. Currently, thereare no treatment that provide a cure pulmonary fibrosis and changes in the dynamics of decline in lung function. Regular, individually tailored treatment should be directed to the pathogenic mechanisms and some clinical symptoms of pneumoconiosis, as well as the prevention of complications. To enhance the effect of pharmacotherapy is recommended to use non-drug therapies that enhance the functionality of the respiratory system.

Cost-Effectiveness of Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis Prevention Based on Its Predicted Incidence within the Datong Coal Mine Group in China

We aimed to estimate the economic losses currently caused by coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP) and, on the basis of these measurements, confirm the economic benefit of preventive measures. Our cohort study included 1,847 patients with CWP and 43,742 coal workers without CWP who were registered in the employment records of the Datong Coal Mine Group. We calculated the cumulative incidence rate of pneumoconiosis using the life-table method. We used the dose-response relationship between cumulative incidence density and cumulative dust exposure to predict the future trend in the incidence of CWP. We calculate the economic loss caused by CWP and economic effectiveness of CWP prevention by a step-wise model. The cumulative incidence rates of CWP in the tunneling, mining, combining, and helping cohorts were 58.7%, 28.1%, 21.7%, and 4.0%, respectively. The cumulative incidence rates increased gradually with increasing cumulative dust exposure (CDE). We predicted 4,300 new CWP cases, assuming the dust concentrations remained at the levels of 2011. If advanced dustproof equipment was adopted, 537 fewer people would be diagnosed with CWP. In all, losses of 1.207 billion Renminbi (RMB, official currency of China) would be prevented and 4,698.8 healthy life years would be gained. Investments in advanced dustproof equipment would be total 843 million RMB, according to our study; the ratio of investment to restored economic losses was 1:1.43. Controlling workplace dust concentrations is critical to reduce the onset of pneumoconiosis and to achieve economic benefits.

[Epidemiological analysis of new cases of pneumoconiosis in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China from 2006 to 2010]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of pneumoconiosis in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China from 2006 to 2009.

METHODS

Statistical analysis was performed on the types, populations, ages, and geographic distribution of the pneumoconiosis cases in Ningxia from 2006 to 2010, as reported in China Information System for Diseases Control and Prevention.

RESULTS

A total of 625 new cases of pneumoconiosis (4 death cases) occurred throughout Ningxia from 2006 to 2010. Of the new cases, 538 (86.1%) suffered stage I pneumoconiosis, 70 (11.2%) stage II pneumoconiosis, and 17 (2.72%) stage III pneumoconiosis. Silicosis and coal-workers' pneumoconiosis were the dominant types of pneumoconiosis, accounting for 97.44% (609/625) of all cases. Of the 625 cases, 557 (89.12%) were distributed in Shizuishan City, and 563 (90.08%) were engaged in coal and metallurgical industries. Most cases were in the 35-year-old group and 45-year-old group, and the lengths of dust-exposed service mostly ranged from 10 to 29 years.

CONCLUSION

In Ningxia, pneumoconiosis control should focus in the state-owned, middle-sized coal enterprises in Shizuishan City. Health surveillance should be enhanced in the workers with more than 10 years of dust-exposed service or aged more than 35 years, so as to reduce the incidence of occupational diseases.

How to improve the hygienic quality of forages for horse feeding

BACKGROUND

Improving the hygienic quality of forages for horse nutrition seems to be a reasonable target for decreasing the prevalence of pulmonary diseases. The aim of the experiment was to study the effects of different agricultural practices on the main aero-allergens contained in forages, including breathable dust, fungi, mycotoxins and pollens.

RESULTS

Results showed that the late harvest of hay, a second crop or a haylage production provides a good alternative to increase hygienic quality by reducing fungi contamination and breathable dust content. Barn drying of hay, while having no effect on breathable dust, similarly reduced fungi contamination. In contrast, when hay was harvested at a lower dry mass content (750 g DM kg⁻¹ versus 850 g DM kg⁻¹), both breathable dust and fungi contaminations were increased, which could at least be reversed by adding propionic acid just before baling. Zearalenone was detected in different hays, and even in one case, in breathable dust.

CONCLUSION

Overall, our data suggest that different approaches can be used to increase forage hygienic quality for horse feeding and thus reduce their exposure to factors involved in equine pulmonary disease.

Toxicity of monazite particulates and its attenuation with a complex of bio-protectors

BACKGROUND

Workers employed on mining, processing and storage of monazite are at risk of exposure to dust with expected adverse health effects.

OBJECTIVES

To study the adverse health effects of monazite particles in experiments on rats and to test the possibility of attenuating these effects.

METHODS

Outbred white rats were injected intratracheally with a suspension of ground monazite concentrate (MC) in order to investigate the cellular response of the lower airways 24 hours later and the organism's status 6 months after the injection. The bio-protective complex (BPC) tested in these experiments consisted of glutamate, an iodine preparation, methionine, a polyvitamin-polymineral composition, and/or "Eicosavitol" (fish oil preparation rich in PUFA, predominantly of the omega 3-group). Bio-protectors were administered together with the rat food and drink daily for one month before the MC injection in the short-term experiment, or over 6 months after such injection in the long-term experiment.

RESULTS

MC induced manifestations of its cytotoxicity, fibrogenicity and systemic toxicity as well as genotoxicity. The tested BPC attenuated virtually all these effects. Although a similar protective potential of "Eicosavitol" against almost all of them was lower compared with that of BPC, combining BPC with "Eicosavitol" provided, as a rule, the greatest protective effect.

CONCLUSION

It may be assumed that the many-sided adverse effects of MC on the organism is due, at least partially, to the presence in its composition of not only rare earth elements but also of natural radioisotopes of the thorium and uranium families. The combination of the bio-protectors tested was highly effective and may be recommended for administering in periodic preventive programmes to exposed workers.

[Efficacy of preventive measures for reducing professional disorders due to pumice powder]

The analysis of the incidence of pumice pneumoconiosis in the period 1970-2002 allows to evaluate the positive effects, particularly on the deadly forms of the disease, of the technical interventions aimed at reducing dusts. The main interventions in the field of the workmanship of pumice were made at the beginning of 70s, with the introduction of electrofilters in the working cycle and the change of the pumice desiccation system, from plate ovens to closed-cycle rotating ovens. This eliminated the need for manual shedding of pumice stones on oven plates. That duty had caused, between 70s and 80s, an high incidence of deadly forms of pneumoconiosis, which dramatically decreased with the reduction of workers exposed to the above risk. A comparison between the period 1970-75 (before preventive technical interventions) and the period 1976-2002 clearly shows an evident decrease both of deadly forms of pneumoconiosis and of acceptance of appeals for professional silicosis.

Occupational safety and health objectives of Healthy People 2010: a systematic approach for occupational health nurses--part I

The Healthy People 2010 prevention agenda, along with the nation's leading health indicators, provides employers with national targets regarding safety, health, and disease prevention. The first five safety and health objectives presented in this article target a reduction in work-related deaths, work-related injuries, overexertion or repetitive motion injuries and illnesses, pneumoconiosis deaths, and work-related homicides. Although progress is being made, opportunities exist to make a greater impact. Using the information and strategies discussed, occupational health nurses can play a key role in developing and implementing workplace safety and health promotion programs.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration's criterion threshold value policy increases miners' risk of pneumoconiosis

BACKGROUND

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) proposes to issue citations for non-compliance with the exposure limit for respirable coal mine dust when measured exposure exceeds the exposure limit with a "high degree of confidence." This criterion threshold value (CTV) is derived from the sampling and analytical error of the measurement method.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

This policy is based on a combination of statistical and legal reasoning: the one-tailed 95% confidence limit of the sampling method, the apparent principle of due process and a standard of proof analogous to "beyond a reasonable doubt."

CRITIQUE

This policy raises the effective exposure limit, it is contrary to the precautionary principle, it is not a fair sharing of the burden of uncertainty, and it employs an inappropriate standard of proof. Its own advisory committee and NIOSH have advised against this policy. For longwall mining sections, it results in a failure to issue citations for approximately 36% of the measured values that exceed the statutory exposure limit.

DISCUSSION

Citations for non-compliance with the respirable dust standard should be issued for any measure exposure that exceeds the exposure limit.

Addition of calcite reduces iron's bioavailability in the Pennsylvania coals--potential use of calcite for the prevention of coal workers' lung diseases

In the present study, a hypothesis was tested that the addition of calcite into the Pennsylvania coals may reduce levels of bioavailable iron (BAI), an important component in the mixed coal dust that may contribute to coal workers' lung diseases. Predetermined proportions of calcite (0, 1, 2, 5, 10% w/w) were added into three PA coals. After suspending the mixtures in an aqueous phosphate solution (10 mM, pH 4.5), which mimics the phagolysosomal conditions of the cells, levels of pH as well as calcium ions (Ca2+) in the coals were increased in a calcite concentration-dependent manner. In contrast, levels of BAI (both Fe2+ and Fe3+) were decreased. The inhibitory effects of calcite on the bioavailability of iron in human lung epithelial A549 cells and primary rat alveolar macrophages (AMs) were also examined. It was found that levels of low-molecular-weight (LMW) iron were significantly decreased in both A549 cells and AMs treated with the 10% calcite-PA coal mixture compared to those treated with the PA coal alone, while calcite itself had no effect on intracellular LMW iron. Calcite also showed a significant inhibitory effect on PA coal-induced ferritin synthesis in A549 cells. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) studies revealed that the iron-containing PA coal downregulated levels of transferrin receptor (TfR) mRNA in A549 cells, which was partially restored by the addition of calcite. Our results indicate that calcite can inhibit the bioavailability of iron in the iron-containing PA coals.

Assessment of respirable dust and its free silica contents in different Indian coalmines

Assessment of respirable dust, personal exposures of miners and free silica contents in dust were undertaken to find out the associated risk of coal workers' pneumoconiosis in 9 coal mines of Eastern India during 1988-91. Mine Research Establishment (MRE), 113A Gravimetric Dust Sampler (GDS) and personal samplers (AFC 123), Cassella, London, approved by Director General of Mines Safety (DGMS) were used respectively for monitoring of mine air dust and personal exposures of miners. Fourier Transform Infra-red (FTIR) Spectroscopy determined free silica in respirable dusts. Thermal Conditions like Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index, humidity and wind velocity were also recorded during monitoring. The dust levels in the face return air of both, Board & Pillar (B&P) and Long Wall (LW) mining were found above the permissible level recommended by DGMS, Govt. of India. The drilling, blasting and loading are the major dusty operations in B&P method. Exposures of driller and loader were varied between, 0.81-9.48 mg/m3 and 0.05-9.84 mg/m3 respectively in B&P mining, whereas exposures of DOSCO loader, Shearer operator and Power Support Face Worker were varied between 2.65-9.11 mg/m3, 0.22-10.00 mg/m3 and 0.12-9.32 mg/m3 respectively in LW mining. In open cast mining, compressor and driller operators are the major exposed groups. The percentage silica in respirable dusts found below 5% in all most all the workers except among query loaders and drillers of open cast mines.