title: Silicosis in surface coalmine drillers.
abstract: Surface coalminers are generally thought to be at minimal risk of developing pneumoconiosis. Biopsy-proved silicoproteinosis was found in a 34-year-old surface coalmine driller, and two of nine other drill crew members who worked for the same company had chest radiographic findings compatible with simple silicosis. Reanalysis of data from a previous United States Public Health Service survey of surface coalminers, after exclusion of those with underground mining experience, showed that 38% of the cases of pneumoconiosis occurred in drill crew members, a group comprising only 11% of the study population. On the basis of these data surface coalmine drillers appear to have an increased risk of developing occupational lung disease.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003032:Coal Mining; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012829:Silicosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D014481:United States