Occupational emphysema in South African miners at autopsy; 1975-2014.
Sithembile L MabilaKirsten S AlmbergLee FriedmanRobert CohenNtombizodwa NdlovuNaseema VorajeeJill MurrayPublished in: International archives of occupational and environmental health (2018)
We observed a significant relationship between mining tenure and emphysema severity among South African miners in PATHAUT between 1975 and 2014. This relationship was evident in multi-variable analyses adjusted for smoking among white miners. Hazards from long term exposure to inhaled mineral dust leading to lung damage (silicosis, fibrosis, COPD) is evident and warrants further improvement of working conditions and prevention measures in South African mines especially for black workers. Further research is needed to determine if there is an effect of TB and HIV co-infection on the development of emphysema.
Keyphrases
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- lung function
- pulmonary fibrosis
- cystic fibrosis
- idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
- antiretroviral therapy
- hiv infected
- air pollution
- hiv positive
- hepatitis c virus
- human immunodeficiency virus
- hiv testing
- oxidative stress
- mycobacterium tuberculosis
- smoking cessation
- health risk
- men who have sex with men
- human health
- south africa