The effects of working conditions on health in
lignite mines in Turkey have not been studied comprehensively. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of
coal miner
pneumoconiosis among
lignite miners and to evaluate the effects of working conditions. The study was carried out between 2001 and 2003. All workers in the
lignite mine and maintenance workers were consisted in the study. A face to face questionnaire was used to obtain demographics and work life variables. Posterior-anterior chest radiograms were evaluated by an A reader chest physician, according to ILO 1980 standard guidelines. Profusion of densities related with
pneumoconiosis as 1/0 and above regarded as the "suspected
pneumoconiosis". Parenchyma degeneration and/or massive opacities have been accepted as complicated
silicosis. Dust concentrations in the work environment obtained from the periodical examinations. Two thousand four hundred and sixty-four X-ray were evaluated and 333 (13.5%)
pneumoconiosis compatible changes were found. Among the
pneumoconiosis cases, 25 (7.5%) were assigned as complicated
silicosis. There was significant and positive association between worked years and
pneumoconiosis prevalence (p= 0.019). Our findings indicated that
pneumoconiosis prevalence among
lignite miners in Turkey comparable to the USA prevalence prior to implementation of effective dust control programmes. It has been suggested that dust exposure in the work environment were high enough to developed
pneumoconiosis in
lignite mines. Dust control systems and measures should be re-evaluated.