Silicosis and tuberculosis in Zambian miners.
Silicosis and tuberculosis (TB) are significant mining-related illnesses in developing countries. The purpose of this study was to examine annual cases of these diseases in Zambian miners, including comparison of periods before (1960-1970) and after (1992-2002) the arrival of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The Occupational Health and Safety Research Bureau of Zambia reported 2114 cases from 1945 to 2002. Of these, 22.7% were silicosis, 65.4% TB, and the remaining 11.9% silicotuberculosis. While silicosis cases decreased from 28.6% to 12.4% with the arrival of HIV/AIDS, there was a large increase in tuberculosis cases (37.1% to 86.1%), with a corresponding decrease in silicotuberculosis cases (34.3% to 1.6%). Although silicosis remains an occupational health issue in Zambian miners, the most significant problem appears to be the marked increase in cases of TB.
Mulenga
Emmanuel M
EM
Division of Environmental and Community Health, University of Arizona, 1435 North Fremont, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA.
Miller
Hugh B
HB
Sinkala
Thomson
T
Hysong
Tracy A
TA
Burgess
Jefferey L
JL
D000328:Adult; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008906:Mining; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012829:Silicosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015024:Zambia / Q000453:epidemiology