Occupational Respiratory Disease Surveillance

Setup Site Summary Report

STATISTICS FOR WORKING MINERS WHO PARTICPATED AT THE SELECTED SITE(S) BELOW

Survey Sites

X-rays were taken from 02/05/2007 through 02/16/2007 in ALABAMA.

X-rays were taken from 06/18/2007 through 06/22/2007 in ALABAMA.

Demographics Data for the Survey Site

For the survey, there was an estimated employment of 2,598 in 2007. Of those 2,598 employed, there were 535 examined for a participation rate of 21%.

• The mean tenure for 523 miners is 22 and ranged from 0 to 50.
• The mean age for 535 miners is 51 and ranged from 22 to 71.
• The mean tenure at the face for 468 miners is 17 and ranged from 1 to 42.

Demographics Data for the Five Years Prior to the Survey

For the period of 2003 through 2007, there was an estimated employment of 2,871. Of those 2,871 employed, there were 999 examined for a participation rate of 35%.

Prevalence of Disease

Of the 535 miners examined:

• 2% ( 13 miners) showed signs of pneumoconiosis.
• 0% ( 0 miners) showed signs of PMF.
• 0% ( 0 miners) showed signs of advanced pneumoconiosis.

Expected Prevalence of Disease for Workers with 15 or more Tenure Years

For the counties included in this report, the average dust level is 1.046 mg/m3. Of the 535 miners examined, 386 had 15 or more tenure years:

• 6% ( 22 miners with 15 or more tenure years) would be expected to have pneumoconiosis.
• 1% ( 4 miners with 15 or more tenure years) would be expected to have PMF.
• 2% ( 7 miners with 15 or more tenure years) would be expected to have advanced pneumoconiosis.

Distribution of Radiographic Findings

For the 535 miners examined, the distribution of the miners in the profusion of small opacities categories is:

• 92% ( 491 miners) are in the 0/0 category.
• 6% ( 31 miners) are in the 0/1 category.
• 1% ( 4 miners) are in the 1/0 category.
• 1% ( 8 miners) are in the 1/1 category.
• 0% ( 1 miners) are in the 1/2 category.
• 0% ( 0 miners) are in the 2/1 category.
• 0% ( 0 miners) are in the 2/2 category.
• 0% ( 0 miners) are in the 2/3 category.
• 0% ( 0 miners) are in the 3/2 category.
• 0% ( 0 miners) are in the 3/3 category.
• 0% ( 0 miners) are in the 3/+ category.

For the 535 miners examined, the distribution of the miners in the large opacities stages is:

• 100% ( 535 miners) are in stage O.
• 0% ( 0 miners) are in stage A.
• 0% ( 0 miners) are in stage B.
• 0% ( 0 miners) are in stage C.

For the 535 miners examined, the distribution for symbol ax is:

• 0% ( 0 miners).

Prevalence of Clinical Findings

For the 535 miners examined, 535 responded to the clinical findings questionnaire.

• 27% ( 147 miners) have a chronic cough.
• 29% ( 156 miners) bring up phlegm from their chest.
• 22% ( 118 miners) have chest sounds of wheezing.
• 40% ( 212 miners) have had an attack of wheezing.
• 31% ( 166 miners) have experienced dyspnea on the level.
• 50% ( 268 miners) have experienced dyspnea on a hill.
• 26% ( 138 miners) have chest tightness.
• 13% ( 67 miners) have chronic bronchitis.
• 3% ( 15 miners) have emphysema.
• 21% ( 114 miners) have had pneumonia.
• 8% ( 42 miners) have asthma.
• 1% ( 4 miners) have tuberculosis.

Smoking Status

For the 535 miners examined, 529 responded to the cigarette smoking history question on the clinical findings questionnaire.

• 52% ( 277 miners) never smoked.
• 29% ( 151 miners) are former smokers.
• 19% ( 101 miners) are current smokers.

Spirometry Results

For the 535 miners examined, 512 also had a spirometry test.

• 2% ( 12 miners) showed obstructive respiratory impairment.
• 5% ( 26 miners) showed restrictive respiratory impairment.
• 1% ( 5 miners) showed mixed respiratory impairment.

Methods used for the Demographics Data

SURVEY PARTICIPATION RATE: count of the number of miners with a valid x-ray during the survey period (NUMBER OF MINERS EXAMINED) divided by the count of the names on the most recent mine rosters submitted to NIOSH by the mine operators (ESTIMATED CURRENT EMPLOYMENT).

5-YEAR PARTICIPATION RATE: count of the number miners with a valid x-ray during the 5-year period preceding the date of the end of the survey (5-YEAR MINERS EXAMINED) divided by the count of the names on the mine rosters that accompanied the mine plans that were submitted to NIOSH by the miner operators during the 5-year period preceding the date of the end of the survey (ESTIMATED 5-YEAR EMPLOYMENT).

TENURE - MEAN: summation of the reported years in various underground mining occupations divided by count of participating miners with a completed work history (N).

AGE - MEAN: summation of the calculated age at time of the x-ray divided by count of participating miners who provided their date of birth (N).

TENURE AT THE FACE - MEAN: summation of the reported years of working at the face divided by count of participating miners who reported working at the face (N).

METHODS USED FOR THE PREVALENCE OF DISEASE DATA

PNEUMOCONIOSIS: number of x-rays with a final determination (consensus based upon NIOSH procedures) of the International Labour Office (ILO) small opacity profusion category 1/0 or higher or with the presence of large opacities, divided by the number of participating miners with a valid x-ray.

PMF: number of x-rays with a final determination of ILO large opacity category "A", "B", or "C" divided by the number of participating miners with a valid x-ray.

ADVANCED: number of x-rays with a final determination of ILO small opacity profusion category 2/1 or higher and presence of symbol "ax" (coalescence of small opacities) or ILO large opacity category of "A", "B", or "C" divided by the number of participating miners with a valid x-ray.

Methods used for the Expected Prevalence Data

PNEUMOCONIOSIS, PMF & ADVANCED: count and percent of expected cases of pneumoconiosis, PMF, and advanced disease for a given mean respirable dust level (concentration) and for the specific type of coal in the region, calculated according to Attfield MD, Morring K. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 1992; 53:486-492.

Methods used for the Distribution of Radiographic Findings

PROFUSION OF SMALL OPACITIES, LARGE OPACITIES & SYMBOLS: count and percent of the x-rays using the final determination of the ILO small opacity, the final determination of the ILO large opacity, and symbol "ax".

Methods used for the Prevalence of the Clinical Findings

SELF-REPORTED: count and percent of self-reported symptoms and/or medical conditions based on the participating miners who completed the health questionnaire survey.

Methods used for the Smoking Status Data

NEVER SMOKER, FORMER SMOKER, & CURRENT SMOKER: count and percent of participating miners who completed the health questionnaire survey miners reporting each smoking history.

Methods used for the Spirometry Results

OBSTRUCTIVE, RESTRICTIVE, & MIXED: number and percent of miners who participated in the spirometry testing and whose results showed one of the following categories of respiratory impairment using forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio:

• OBSTRUCTIVE - FEV1/FVC < lower limit of normal (LLN) and FVC >= LLN
• RESTRICTIVE - FEV1/FVC > LLN and FVC < LLN
• MIXED - FEV1/FVC < LLN and FVC < LLN