Respiratory health of underground coal miners in Newcastle

Abstract

Underground coal miners are exposed to a mixture of airborne hazards and their respiratory health may be affected even if exposures to individual hazards are below the exposure standard. The aims of the research were to assess the association of respiratory impairments and exposure to underground coal mining. Two hundred and ten (210) miners in Newcastle coal mines and 95 unexposed subjects in the same area were recruited. Demographic information, occupational history, respiratory abnormalities, smoking profile and health history was obtained by questionnaire survey prior to lung function measurement. Data were analysed by univariate, bivariate and multivariate statistics. It was found that respiratory abnormalities did not occur more often in underground coal workers compared with controls, and associations between parameters of lung function and exposure were not demonstrable after adjustment. The study results might be an indication of continuing effective hazard control in these mines.