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The Division of Respiratory Disease Studies
provides national and international leadership toward the identification,
evaluation, and prevention of occupational respiratory disease, such
as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and pneumoconiosis.
The Division administers legislatively mandated medical services for
coal miners; tests, evaluates, certifies, monitors, and conducts research
on the quality of respiratory protective devices; and publishes and promulgates
regulations, notices, and findings necessary for the efficacious conduct
of these responsibilities. Major programs include:
- Surveillance
DRDS collects, analyzes, and disseminates health and hazard information
related to occupational
respiratory disease, including the incidence,
prevalence, and temporal trends of specific diseases by agent, occupation,
industry, geography, and demographic characteristics. The program
also provides technical assistance and recommendations for medical
screening and health surveillance through surveys of hazardous exposures
and personal protective equipment use. The program synthesizes data
and frames recommendations for priority setting, hypothesis generation,
and data collection.
- Coal Workers Health Surveillance Program
DRDS coordinates and processes the medical examinations prescribed
by the 1977 Federal Mine Safety and Health Act (FMSHAct), which
includes: operating a certification program for participating medical
facilities and physicians; evaluating and approving employer programs
for mandated employee examinations under the Coal Workers X-ray
Surveillance Program; and operating the National Coal Workers Autopsy
Program.
- Field Studies
DRDS designs and conducts short- and long-term field investigations,
morbidity and mortality studies, and occupational hygiene studies
to evaluate and assess the relationship between exposures to toxic
substances and acute and chronic lung diseases. DRDS also responds
to requests from employers or employees for health hazard evaluations
related to respiratory diseases and recommends methods to eliminate
or reduce identified hazards. Findings from studies are published
in scientific journals, technical articles, or other appropriate
media so that the results and recommendations can be used for national
disease prevention activities.
- Laboratory Research
The Laboratory Research Branch's (LRB) mission is to improve the means to measure, monitor, and control workplace hazards known or suspected to cause respiratory disease, and improve the means to detect adverse human responses to toxic occupational agents. Agents of interest and other opportunities for LRB research may be identified through field investigations, surveillance, or familiarity with the state of relevant science. Branch scientists conduct hypothesis-driven laboratory investigations as well as design and participate in relevant field studies. As appropriate, there is close collaboration with other Institute investigators and ongoing communication and coordination with other national and international scientists. The end result is to develop and disseminate useful information to prevent occupational respiratory disease.
- Tuberculosis Coordination
DRDS coordinates the NIOSH Tuberculosis research program, which is
designed to improve recognition, evaluation, prevention and control
of tuberculosis transmission where workplace or occupation confers
added risk of infection. This Institute program is part of the
larger CDC program for tuberculosis elimination.
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Intramural Programs by Divisions
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