Coal Dust Linked to Emphysema Severity

Coal dust is directly linked to the severity of emphysema in both smokers and nonsmokers, according to new research published in the August 1 American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. The study concludes that coal miners’ exposure to the dust could cause severe emphysema later in life.

The study was the first of autopsied coal mine workers to examine pathology data from whole lung sections, along with smoking history and work histories that reconstruct the coal mine exposures. Coal production worldwide has nearly doubled in the past 25 years. Other studies have linked coal dust to emphysema, but authors of the new research say that they now understand how other factors, like cigarette smoking and dust exposure, lead to lung diseases.

Researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) compared lung autopsy records of 616 Virginia coal miners from West Virginia with 106 nonminers from West Virginia and Vermont. Those from West Virginia were collected from autopsies from 1957 and 1973 at the Beckley Southern Appalachian Regional Hospital during a black lung study. The lungs from Vermont were taken from autopsies performed at the University of Vermont between 1972 and 1978. The researchers tried when possible to establish particulars like age at death, race and smoking history.

Cumulative Exposure is Significant Predictor

After pathologists examined the lungs to determine the type and extent of emphysema, it was concluded that coal mine dust was a highly significant predictor of emphysema severity. The miners tended to be older at age of death due to a higher proportion of accidental deaths among non-miners. Miners were also less likely to smoke cigarettes, although this was not statistically significant. However, emphysema in miners was more severe than in non-miners (both smokers and non-smokers).

The NIOSH researchers are saying that their research has immediate relevance to current safety standards, even though the lung autopsies dated back to before a 1972 federal law that limited exposure to coal dust. They said that a career coal miner would still be exposed to dangerous levels of coal dust. Coal miners in developing countries might be exposed to more coal dust than in the U.S., they added.

“Better recognition of the key disease predictors may enhance opportunities for the primary prevention, diagnosis and medical management of occupational dust-related lung diseases,” researchers wrote.

The findings came to light soon after an eastern Kentucky coal miner’s lawsuit was dismissed by a federal appeals court. Scott Howard had hoped to force higher health protective standards for underground coal miners. The ruling from the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals said that Howard had “failed to exhaust his administrative remedies” before filing the suit, and suggested that he petition the Department of Labor to change health standards.

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