Pneumoconiosis problem among the Vietnamese coal mine workers

In this report, the authors present the pneumoconiosis problem among Vietnamese coal mine workers. As coal is one of the most important products for export, its production has been intensified recently. With the strong incentive for rapid economic development, health problems of miners tend to take second place. As shown in the present report, miners' working conditions are very bad, and health protection measures are not sufficiently implemented. It is apparent that official statistics underestimate the actual situation because of the inadequacy of the reporting system. Because the financial barrier to establishing a sufficient reporting system for pneumoconiosis is enormous, an epidemiologic study is the most effective way to assess the actual situation. It is also useful to conduct epidemiologic studies as part of an international collaborative project, in order to transfer necessary knowledge and epidemiologic skills from the developed countries to Vietnam.