[Cutters and drillers: 2 different coal pneumoconioses?]

The radiographs of 393 coal-cutters (or hewers) and 187 drillers were read independently by two pneumoconiosis experts following the complete 12 grade classification (BIT 1980). The two groups were comparable for age, tobacco and alcohol consumption, and respiratory symptoms but the VEMS was lower in he drillers (p = 0.05). There were significant radiological differences between the groups as follows: with the coal-cutters predominantly type "p" opacities and Category 1; in the drillers "q" and "v" opacities and category 3 were most frequent, and there were a large number of pseudo-tumoral masses and signs of hyperinflation. The two groups have a quantitative and qualitative differences in exposure; it is necessary to interpret the results as two different types of pneumoconiosis, although there are intermediate types. The coal cutters have coal-workers pneumoconiosis in the strictest sense, while the drillers have silicosis with mixed dusts, the latter being more aggressive and incapacitating. One should take account of the two types in epidemiological evaluations in coal miners. It helps to explain certain contradictory results.