title: 38 years of autopsy findings in South African mine workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  South African miners have a statutory right to autopsies for occupational lung disease compensation. These autopsies also provide information for research and surveillance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cardio-respiratory organs are removed where miners die and are examined at the National Institute for Occupational Health. We extracted data from the PATHAUT database and described key demographic, exposure and disease trends (1975-2013).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 109,101 autopsies, 72,348 (66.3%) were black, and 34,794 (31.9%) were white miners. Autopsies declined from over 3,000 (1975-1998) to 1,118 in 2013. Most were gold miners (74.0%). 78.6% black and 13.2% white miners died while in employment. Overall proportions of silicosis and pulmonary tuberculosis were 12.0% and 13.0% in black, and 20.5% and 2.4% in white miners, respectively. Disease increased over time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High levels of disease persist. Black ex-miners are underrepresented, indicating a need for strategies to improve awareness and provision of autopsy facilities in labor-sending areas.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.|Division of Pathology, National Institute for Occupational Health, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Ntombizodwa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ndlovu
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Gill
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: Division of Pathology, National Institute for Occupational Health, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa.|School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Naseema
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vorajee
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.|Division of Pathology, National Institute for Occupational Health, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Murray
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001344:Autopsy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006046:Gold; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008906:Mining / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D012829:Silicosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006046:Gold
keywords: PATHAUT; administrative database; occupational lung disease; silicosis; tuberculosis