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Pulmonary dysfunction in gold miners with reactive airways
1Ernest Oppenheimer Hospital, Welkom, South Africa.
British Journal of Industrial Medicine
|December 1, 1989
Summary
Airway reactivity was found in 12% of South African gold miners. While not caused by mining, reactive airways worsened chronic airflow limitation and susceptibility to environmental exposures.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Occupational exposures in gold mining are linked to respiratory issues.
- Airway reactivity is a significant factor in chronic lung diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of airway reactivity in South African gold miners.
- To determine the relationship between occupational exposure and airway reactivity.
- To assess the impact of airway reactivity on chronic airflow limitation.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 1197 older black South African gold miners.
- Airway reactivity assessed by forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) response to salbutamol.
- Analysis controlled for age, smoking, and silicosis.
Main Results:
- 12% of miners exhibited airway reactivity.
- No association found between underground exposure extent and airway reactivity frequency.
- Miners with reactive airways showed increased chronic airflow limitation, with reduced FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC%, and maximal mid-expiratory flow.
- Reactive airways increased susceptibility to adverse effects of the underground environment.
Conclusions:
- Airway reactivity is prevalent in this mining population.
- Occupational exposure did not appear to induce airway reactivity.
- Reactive airways exacerbate chronic airflow limitation and increase vulnerability to mining-related respiratory insults.