There has been a concerted effort in the United States and Great Britain to prevent occupational lung disease among coal miners for over thirty years. This effort has included all the conventional methods of public health: medical care, disease surveillance and screening, exposure monitoring, engineering research and development, epidemiologic and clinical research, setting exposure limits and enforcing regulations. Ukraine is far behind in monitoring and intervention to prevent occupational lung disease in part because of their severe economic crisis since independence in 1991. This project was designed to gather pilot data to on the prevalence of respiratory disease in this important sector of the Ukranian work force. Beginning December 2000, we began gathering data on a sample of 500 coal miners taken from a work force of 7000 working in three coal mines in the Kirovski District, Donetsk, Ukraine. This population undergoes a mandatory annual physical examination with 97% participation rates. A standardized questionnaire is being used to obtain an accurate work history, smoking history, history of respiratory symptoms, and other medical history. Spirometry is being performed according to ATS guidelines using a SensorMedics dry rolling seal spirometer. Full sized chest radiographs are being taken and will be read by B readers in Ukraine and the US using ILO 1980 standards. Results of questionnaires, CXRs, and lung function tests will be presented to give an estimate of the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, radiologic pneumoconiosis, and pulmonary impairment in this population.
Learning Objectives: List methods of surveillance for occupational lung disease. Discuss prevalence rates of respiratory disease in a high risk cohort of coal miners. Identify occupational and non-occupational exposures which may conribute to respiratory disease. Discuss interventions that may prevent respiratory disease in coal miners.
Keywords: Occupational Surveillance, Chronic Diseases
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.