title: Case cluster of pneumoconiosis at a coal slag processing facility.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  During an inspection by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of a small coal slag processing plant with 12 current workers, four cases of pneumoconiosis were identified among former workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The OSHA investigation consisted of industrial hygiene sampling, a review of medical records, and case interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Some personal sampling measurements exceeded the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for total dust exposures of 15 mg/m(3), and the measured respirable silica exposure of 0.043 mg/m(3), although below OSHA's current PEL for respirable dust containing silica, was above the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists' Threshold Limit Value (TLV). Chest x-rays for all four workers identified small opacities consistent with pneumoconiosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first known report of lung disease in workers processing coal slag and raises concerns for workers exposed to coal slag dust.
authors: Office of Occupational Medicine, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Washington, DC.
authors: Kathleen M
authors: KM
authors: Fagan
authors: Erin B
authors: EB
authors: Cropsey
authors: Jenna L
authors: JL
authors: Armstrong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003031:Coal / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D000066428:Coal Industry; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D011009:Pneumoconiosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D014481:United States; D014489:United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D003031:Coal; D004391:Dust; D008670:Metals; D012822:Silicon Dioxide
keywords: OSHA; coal slag; dust; pneumoconiosis; silica