Abstract
Introduction: Coal worker’s pneumoconiosis is caused by the inhalation of coal dust and its accumulation in the lungs after several years of exposure.Objective: To determine the prevalence of pneumoconiosis in underground mining workers exposed to coal dust in Cundinamarca, Colombia, and its association with their spirometry results and respiratory symptoms.Materials and methods: Cross-sectional study conducted on 215 workers who were administered a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms. For each worker a chest radiograph was taken according to the criteria of the International Labor Organization. Information on the workers’ socio-demographic characteristics, smoking habits, and spirometry results was included.Results: The average age was 45.5 ± 9.4 years and the average length of employment was 21.7±10.0 years. Expectoration was the symptom most frequently reported (73.5%). Regarding spirometry results, a normal pattern was observed in 89.8% of the sample, while obstructive and restrictive patterns were found in 5.1% and 3.7% of the subjects, and 0.5% had a peripheral airways dysfunction pattern. The prevalence of pneumoconiosis was 42.33%. FEV1/FVC ratio (81.75 vs. 83.74, p=0.045) and FF25-75% (84.96 vs. 91.95, p<0.001) mean values were significantly lower in workers with pneumoconiosis.Conclusion: Pneumoconiosis was highly prevalent in the study population and its diagnosis was associated with spirometry results (FEV1/FVC and FEF25.75%); bearing in mind that currently there are not effective treatments for this disease, it is necessary to implement control and prevention strategies aimed at reducing occupational exposure to coal dust and, this way, prevent its occurrence.
Highlights
Coal worker’s pneumoconiosis is caused by the inhalation of coal dust and its accumulation in the lungs after several years of exposure.Introducción
forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)/FVC ratio (81.75 vs. 83.74, p=0.045) and FF25-75% (84.96 vs. 91.95, p
Spirometry is used to monitor workers with pneumoconiosis as it allows the quantitative assessment of the mechanical aspects of breathing. [5,6] In the present study the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) is the most appropriate indicator, since it can reflect reduced lung capacity and bronchial obstruction when associated with forced vital capacity scores (FEV1/FVC ratio); based on its analysis it is possible to determine the type of respiratory disorder: obstructive, restrictive or mixed. [1]
Summary
Coal worker’s pneumoconiosis is caused by the inhalation of coal dust and its accumulation in the lungs after several years of exposure.Introducción. In the case of workers who have been exposed to coal dust it is of great importance to ask them whether they have a history of smoking or not, since this condition increases the risk of experiencing airway obstruction, which in turn means a reduced FEV1/FVC ratio. In this sense, Guerrero-Medina & Gutiérrez Strauss [2] state that the FEV1 result and the FEV1/FVC ratio allow a better characterization of lung function in smoking patients and in those with bronchitis. In a study carried out in 2013 in underground miners of Boyacá exposed to coal dust, spirometry findings associated with obstructive and mixed patterns were observed in miners who had been working more than 20 years in these conditions. [9] Other studies allow concluding that, pulmonary function tests are not decisive to reach a final diagnosis of pneumoconiosis, they are useful as an early diagnosis tool and as a medical surveillance measure in mining workers exposed to coal dust, besides they are cheap and easy to perform. [6,10]
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