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This
study was undertaken in collaboration with the International
Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada, consisting of
clinico-radiological examination and ventilatory function
tests in 5777 underground coal miners and 1236 surface coal
miners. This study revealed that the
prevalence of pneumoconiosis (category 1/1 and more) in
underground coal miners was 2.84% and in the surface coal
workers it was 2.10%. Majority of the cases of neumoconiosis
(84.1% of total cases) in underground coal miners belonged to
category 1/1.
There were no cases of pneumoconiosis higher than category
2/2. Only three cases of progressive massive fibrosis (PMF)
were found in underground coal miners and none in surface coal
workers. The prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms
amongst the underground
miners was 31.3%, which was significantly higher than that
amongst the surface coal workers (17.3%). The overall
prevalence of functional abnormalities of lung in underground
coal miners and surface coal workers was 45.4% and 42.2%
respectively.
The prevalence of obstructive (inclusive of mixed) type of
functional abnormalities of lungs amongst underground coal
miners and surface coal workers was 28.9% and 24.1%
respectively. The environmental study indicated that the air
borne dust concentrations were much higher than the suggested
threshold limit values (TLV) in underground and surface
coal mines. The noise levels and the parameters of heat stress
also exceeded the TLVs.
This
study established a low prevalence of pneumoconiosis and
absence of more severe cases of pneumoconiosis
in Indian coal miners and also reported very high
prevalence of non pneumoconiotic respiratory morbidity in coal
miners.
Asbestosis
Byssinosis
Pneumoconiosis and Other Respiratory Morbidities Among Coal
Miners In India
Noise Pollution and Health Effects
Occupational Exposure to Heavy Metals
Occupational Exposure to Organochlorine Pesticides
Agricultural Ergonomics
Women in Industry: Health and safety
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