Rationale The reasons for resurgent coal workers’ pneumoconiosis and its most severe forms, rapidly progressive pneumoconiosis and progressive massive fibrosis (PMF), in the United States are not yet fully understood. Objectives To compare the pathologic and mineralogic features of contemporary coal miners with severe pneumoconiosis with those of their historical counterparts. Methods Lung pathology specimens from 85 coal miners with PMF were included for evaluation and analysis. We compared the proportion of cases with pathologic and mineralogic findings in miners born between 1910 and 1930 (historical) with those in miners born in or after 1930 (contemporary). Results We found a significantly higher proportion of silica-type PMF (57% vs. 18%; P < 0.001) among contemporary miners compared with their historical counterparts. Mineral dust alveolar proteinosis was also more common in contemporary miners compared with their historical counterparts (70% vs. 37%; P < 0.01). In situ mineralogic analysis showed that the percentage (26.1% vs. 17.8%; P < 0.01) and concentration (47.3 × 10 8 vs. 25.8 × 10 8 particles/cm 3 ; P = 0.036) of silica particles were significantly greater in specimens from contemporary miners compared with their historical counterparts. The concentration of silica particles was significantly greater when silica-type PMF, mineral dust alveolar proteinosis, silicotic nodules, or immature silicotic nodules were present ( P < 0.05). Conclusions Exposure to respirable crystalline silica appears causal in the unexpected surge of severe disease in contemporary miners. Our findings underscore the importance of controlling workplace silica exposure to prevent the disabling and untreatable adverse health effects afflicting U.S. coal miners.

Purpose of review To review the impact of coal mining and resurgence of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP) in 21st century and effect of ambient air pollution on lung function. Recent findings At the beginning of 21st century, statistics by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health showed a steep rise in pneumoconiosis. This was followed by numerous epidemiologic and pathologic studies that confirmed increasing CWP prevalence as well as disease in younger miners and those with a shorter mining tenure. Recent studies have demonstrated that poor dust control in mines, a relative shift in composition of the coal mine dust, small sized mines and increase in surface mining are all possible contributors to this resurgence. There is also growing literature evaluating the effects of worsening air pollution on health, including decreasing lung function and development of emphysema, worsening quality of life measures and lung cancer. Summary This irreversible but preventable disease currently haunts approximately 60 000 miners across United States and millions across the world. Its resurgence despite the strict dust regulations is a setback from the public health standpoint. The continued reliance on coal for energy will continue to place coal miners at danger of developing disease as well as the world.

Background Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for interstitial lung abnormalities (ILAs) and interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). Investigation defining the relationships between ILAs/ILDs and clinical, radiographic, and pathologic findings in smokers have been incomplete. Employing a cohort undergoing surgical resection for lung nodules/masses, we (1) define the prevalence of ILAs/ILDs, (2) delineate their clinical, radiographic and pathologic predictors, and (3) determine their associations with mortality. Methods Patients undergoing resection of lung nodules/masses between 2017 and 2020 at a rural Appalachian, tertiary medical center were retrospectively investigated. Predictors for ILAs/ILDs and mortality were assessed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results In the total study cohort of 352 patients, radiographic ILAs and ILDs were observed in 35.2% and 17.6%, respectively. Among ILA patterns, subpleural reticular changes (14.8%), non-emphysematous cysts, centrilobular (CL) ground glass opacities (GGOs) (8% each), and mixed CL-GGO and subpleural reticular changes (7.4%) were common. ILD patterns included combined pulmonary fibrosis emphysema (CPFE) (3.1%), respiratory bronchiolitis (RB)-ILD (3.1%), organizing pneumonitis (2.8%) and unclassifiable (4.8%). The group with radiographic ILAs/ILDs had a significantly higher proportion of ever smokers (49% vs. 39.9%), pack years of smoking (44.57 ± 36.21 vs. 34.96 ± 26.22), clinical comorbidities of COPD (35% vs. 26.5%) and mildly reduced diffusion capacity (% predicated 66.29 ± 20.55 vs. 71.84 ± 23). Radiographic centrilobular and paraseptal emphysema (40% vs. 22.2% and 17.6% vs. 9.6%, respectively) and isolated traction bronchiectasis (10.2% vs. 4.2%) were associated with ILAs/ILDs. Pathological variables of emphysema (34.9% vs. 18.5%), any fibrosis (15.9% vs. 4.6%), peribronchiolar metaplasia (PBM, 8% vs. 1.1%), RB (10.3% vs. 2.5%), and anthracosis (21.6% vs. 14.5%) were associated with ILAs/ILDs. Histologic emphysema showed positive correlations with any fibrosis, RB, anthracosis and ≥ 30 pack year of smoking. The group with ILAs/ILDs had significantly higher mortality (9.1% vs. 2.2%, OR 4.13, [95% CI of 1.84–9.25]). Conclusions In a rural cohort undergoing surgical resection, radiographic subclinical ILAs/ILDs patterns were highly prevalent and associated with ever smoking and intensity of smoking. The presence of radiographic ILA/ILD patterns and isolated honeycomb changes were associated with increased mortality. Subclinical ILAs/ILDs and histologic fibrosis correlated with clinical COPD as well as radiographic and pathologic emphysema emphasizing the co-existence of these pulmonary injuries in a heavily smoking population.

No abstract

No abstract