Respiratory effects of coal dust exposure: clinical effects and diagnosis

During the past two decades, growing evidence has been reported on the role of respirable inorganic dust in the development of airflow obstruction, impaired diffusion capacity, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema, irrespective of the extent of possible pneumoconiotic abnormalities. These nonpneumoconiotic effects associated with dust exposure in miners and the relationship between dust exposure and mortality are reviewed. When pneumoconiotic changes can be visualized by different radiologic techniques, including computed tomography (CT) and high-resolution CT, assessment of the respiratory impairment in coal workers at present requires evaluation of the ventilatory and gas exchange capacity.