Radiographic abnormalities and duration of employment in Western Australian iron-ore miners.
Plain chest radiographs of 788 Pilbara iron-ore miners from Western Australia have been examined by two independent observers for evidence of pneumoconiosis. The prevalence of any radiographic abnormality (a profusion grade of 0/1 or greater on the International Labour Office [ILO] scale) was 6.7% for Reader 1 and 9.9% for Reader 2. The prevalence of a definite radiographic abnormality (a profusion grade of 1/0 or greater on the ILO scale) was 1.9% for Reader 1 and 2.8% for Reader 2. The prevalence of any abnormality, as identified by either or by both observers, was significantly related to age. The relationship between a radiographic abnormality and the duration of employment was less clear. The results indicate a need for more detailed and comprehensive studies of the effects of iron-ore dust in this industry.
Musk
A W
AW
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, WA.
de Klerk
N H
NH
Cookson
W O
WO
Morgan
W K
WK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008906:Mining; D011009:Pneumoconiosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011859:Radiography; D013997:Time Factors; D014904:Western Australia
D007501:Iron