High prevalence of accelerated silicosis among gold miners in Jiangxi, China.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Accelerated silicosis has become uncommon in developed countries, whereas serious health threat still exists in small-scale mining in developing countries. This study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of accelerated silicosis among Chinese gold miners.

METHODS:

A cross-sectional medical examination was conducted among 574 Chinese gold miners. All participants were male rock-drillers. The concentrations of total dust and quartz content were obtained from the government documentations. Descriptive data analyses were performed.

RESULTS:

The prevalence of accelerated silicosis was 29.1% (95% CI: 24.8-33.4%, 167 cases) after an average of 5.6 years of dust exposure, and a history of tuberculosis seemed to increase the risk. The concentration of respirable silica dust was estimated to be 89.5 mg/m(3) (ranged: 70.2-108.8) in the underground goldmine, far exceeding the permissible exposure limits.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study illustrates a serious health threat to small-scale goldmine in China and indicates an urgent need for environmental control and disease prevention.

• Authors: Lap Ah Tse, Zhi Min Li, Tze Wai Wong, Zhen Ming Fu, Ignatius Tak Sun Yu
• Journal: American journal of industrial medicine (Am J Ind Med) Vol. 50 Issue 12 Pg. 876-80 (Dec 2007) ISSN: 0271-3586 [Print] United States
• PMID: 17948247 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Dust
• Gold Compounds
• Silicon Dioxide

Topics

• China (epidemiology)
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Dust
• Gold Compounds
• Humans
• Male
• Mining
• Occupational Exposure (adverse effects)
• Occupational Health
• Prevalence
• Risk Assessment
• Risk Factors
• Silicon Dioxide (toxicity)
• Silicosis (diagnosis, epidemiology, etiology)
• Time Factors