Ethnic differences in the prevalence of nonmalignant respiratory disease among uranium miners.
OBJECTIVE
This study (1) investigates the relationship of nonmalignant respiratory disease to underground uranium mining and to cigarette smoking in Native American, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic White miners in the Southwest and (2) evaluates the criteria for compensation of ethnic minorities.


METHODS
Risk for mining-related lung disease was analyzed by stratified analysis, multiple linear regression, and logistic regression with data on 1359 miners.


RESULTS
Uranium mining is more strongly associated with obstructive lung disease and radiographic pnuemoconiosis in Native Americans than in Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites. Obstructive lung disease in Hispanic and non-Hispanic White miners is mostly related to cigarette smoking. Current compensation criteria excluded 24% of Native Americans who, by ethnic-specific standards, had restrictive lung disease and 4.8% who had obstructive lung disease. Native Americans have the highest prevalence of radiographic pneumoconiosis, but are less likely to meet spirometry criteria for compensation.


CONCLUSIONS
Native American miners have more nonmalignant respiratory disease from underground uranium mining, and less disease from smoking, than the other groups, but are less likely to receive compensation for mining-related disease.
Mapel
D W
DW
Epidemiology and Cancer Control Division, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque 87131-5306, USA.
Coultas
D B
DB
James
D S
DS
Hunt
W C
WC
Stidley
C A
CA
Gilliland
F D
FD
D003120:Colorado / Q000453:epidemiology; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008906:Mining / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009516:New Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015206:Southwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014501:Uranium; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000592:standards*
D014501:Uranium