Pulmonary function in miners working in British collieries: epidemiological investigations by the National Coal Board

Epidemiological investigations of ventilatory capacity in men working in British coal mines are reviewed. The results are related to radiological category of pneumoconiosis, respiratory symptoms, cigarette smoking and dust exposure. In summary it was found that dust exposure was associated with a fall in FEV1.0 but that there was no further fall assoicated with the presence of simple pneumoconiosis. Simple pneumoconiosis appeared to be evidence of the amount of previous dust exposure and suggested that this had been sufficient to cause a measurable fall in FEV1.0. The extent of the ventilatory impairment associated with simple pneumoconiosis was less than that due to age alone in most men. Cigarette smoking was found to be an important cause of ventilatory impairment.