The incidence and progression of pneumoconiosis over nine years in U.S. coal miners: II. Relationship with dust exposure and other potential causative factors

Attfield, Michael D.; Reger, R. B.; Glenn, Robert E.

doi:10.1002/ajim.4700060605

Cited by 8 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Ca 2+ is present in all coals, though the Utah coals have highest levels of Ca 2+ released. Epidemiological studies showed that CWP is frequent in Pennsylvania coal workers (Attfield et al, 1984;Attfield & Althouse, 1992;Morgan et al, 1973). In contrast, coals from Utah, with low prevalence of CWP, had little acid soluble Fe 2+ and Fe 3+ .…”

Section: Acid Solubilization Of Iron In Coalsmentioning

confidence: 78%

Understanding the Chemical Properties of Macerals and Minerals in Coal and its Potential Application for Occupational Lung Disease Prevention

Huang

Finkelman

2008

Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B

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Recent increases in oil price further strengthen the argument that coal and coal products will play an increasingly important role in fulfilling the energy needs of our society. Coal is an aggregate of heterogeneous substances composed of organic (macerals) and inorganic (minerals) materials. The objective of this review was to assess whether some chemical parameters in coal play a role in producing environmental health problems. Basic properties of coal--such as chemical forms of the organic materials, structure, compositions of minerals--vary from one coal mine region to another as well as from coals of different ranks. Most importantly, changes in chemical properties of coals due to exposure to air and humidity after mining--a dynamic process--significantly affect toxicity attributed to coal and environmental fate. Although coal is an extremely complex and heterogeneous material, the fundamental properties of coal responsible for environmental and adverse health problems are probably related to the same inducing components of coal. For instance, oxidation of pyrite (FeS2) in the coal forms iron sulfate and sulfuric acid, which produces occupational lung diseases (e.g., pneumoconiosis) and other environmental problems (e.g., acid mine drainage and acid rain). Calcite (CaCO3) contained in certain coals alters the end products of pyrite oxidation, which may make these coals less toxic to human inhalation and less hazardous to environmental pollution. Finally, knowledge gained on understanding of the chemical properties of coals is illustrated to apply for prediction of toxicity due to coal possibly before large-scale mining and prevention of occupational lung disease during mining.

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Section: Acid Solubilization Of Iron In Coalsmentioning

confidence: 78%

Understanding the Chemical Properties of Macerals and Minerals in Coal and its Potential Application for Occupational Lung Disease Prevention

Huang

Finkelman

2008

Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B

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“…Ca 2+ is present in all coals, though the Utah coals have highest levels of Ca 2+ released. Epidemiological studies have shown that CWP is frequent in Pennsylvania coal workers (Morgan et al 1973;Attfi eld et al 1984; Attfi eld and Althouse 1992). In contrast, coals from Utah with low prevalence of CWP had little acid soluble Fe 2+ and Fe 3+ ( Table 1).…”

Section: Acid Solubilization Of Iron and Buffering Capacity Of Coalsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Interaction of Iron and Calcium Minerals in Coals and their Roles in Coal Dust-Induced Health and Environmental Problems

Huang¹,

Gordon²,

Rom³

et al. 2006

Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry

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Epidemiological studies using pollutant gases (e.g., SO 2 ) and particle characteristics (e.g., elemental carbon) indicate that products of fossil fuel combustion are important contributors to particulate matter (PM)-associated hospital admissions and mortality. Coal is one of the world's most important fossil fuels, providing 40% of electricity worldwide. Besides individuals exposed to PM in ambient air, coal mining can cause adverse health effects in workers exposed to coal dusts at the workplace. Among the respiratory diseases, coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) has received the most attention because of its clear occupational association. The fi eld of CWP research is one of the few areas in occupational health in which considerable epidemiological data are available. This offers a good opportunity to focus on the relationship between epidemiological data and physico-chemical and/or biological characteristics of coals. The objective of this review is to assess whether some physico-chemical parameters play a role in the observed regional differences in the prevalence of CWP among various coalmine regions. We mainly concentrate on the chemical interaction of two minerals, pyrite (FeS 2 ) and calcite (CaCO 3 ) in the coals and their role in causing occupational lung diseases (e.g., pneumoconiosis) and other environmental problems (e.g., acid mine drainage). Therefore, understanding the chemical interaction of the two minerals in the coal may lead to the identifi cation of the causal components in coal dusts as well as in PM. Examples from U.S.A. coals are used to illustrate the chemical interaction and geological distribution of iron and calcium minerals in various coalmine regions and how the differences in levels of these types of minerals contribute to the observed regional differences in the prevalence of CWP. Molecular mechanisms leading to the CWP development are also discussed, particular in the aspects of oxidative stress and infl ammation.

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The incidence and progression of pneumoconiosis over nine years in U.S. coal miners: I. Principal findings

Attfield

Reger

Glenn

1984

American J Industrial Med

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Chest radiographs, taken at a 9-year interval for 1,261 U.S. coal miners, were read for pneumoconiosis side-by-side by six readers in a controlled trial. Incidence and progression of small, rounded opacities were consistent with levels predicted from dose-response curves developed by the British Pneumoconiosis Field Research interpolated at a concentration derived from U.S. compliance levels mandated over the last 9 years. The results imply that the level of pneumoconiosis in U.S. miners is being reduced through application of the current 2 mg/m3 standard. The long developmental period for pneumoconiosis necessitates that further study be undertaken to verify this finding and to determine whether 2 mg/m3 is an appropriate regulatory dust level for the prevention of category 2 or greater simple pneumoconiosis over a 35-year period.

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The incidence and progression of pneumoconiosis over nine years in U.S. coal miners: II. Relationship with dust exposure and other potential causative factors

Cited by 8 publications

References 3 publications

Understanding the Chemical Properties of Macerals and Minerals in Coal and its Potential Application for Occupational Lung Disease Prevention

Understanding the Chemical Properties of Macerals and Minerals in Coal and its Potential Application for Occupational Lung Disease Prevention

Interaction of Iron and Calcium Minerals in Coals and their Roles in Coal Dust-Induced Health and Environmental Problems

The incidence and progression of pneumoconiosis over nine years in U.S. coal miners: I. Principal findings

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