[Dynamic analysis of incidence of silicosis in uranium miners].
OBJECTIVE
To understand the laws and characteristics of incidence of silicosis and to evaluate the effectiveness of prevention and treatment measures for it in uranium miners.


METHODS
An epidemiological study was carried out in three uranium mines and two geological prospecting teams for uranium mines.


RESULTS
Exposure to dust in all patients with silicosis initiated in 1950s to 1960s. Dust concentration and detection rate of silicosis have been decreasing, the length of employment in uranium mines and age at occurrence of the disease, interval between lower and upper stages of the disease, its duration and age at their death all have showed an increasing trend since the founding of the mines and geological prospecting teams more than thirty years ago. Those with delayed occurrence of the disease accounting for 20.31% of the total cases. The length of employment in the cases exposed to uranium dust averaged 7.47 years, and the age at occurrence averaged 36.74 years, less than in those exposed to mixed non-uranium dust.


CONCLUSIONS
Effectiveness of comprehensive prevention and treatment measures for silicosis in uranium mines is significant. The average length of employment and age of the occurrence of the silicosis in those exposed only to uranium dust showed and younger.
Yang
Y
Y
Faculty of Radiation Medicine, Suzhou Medical College, Jiangsu.
Zhou
L
L
Wu
Q
Q
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008906:Mining; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012829:Silicosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014501:Uranium
D014501:Uranium