Combined effect of coal dust exposure and smoking on the prevalence of respiratory impairment among coal miners of West Bengal, India

Abstract

Accelerating prevalence of coal workers pneumoconiosis is considered as a serious occupational health problem. This cross-sectional study was designed to determine the prevalence of lung function impairment of underground coal miners in West Bengal, India. A total of 230 underground coal dust-exposed subjects and 130 nonexposed subjects were examined for lung function test and also information on sociodemographic characteristics, addiction, respiratory morbidity, personnel protective equipment and dust exposure were collected. Lung function impairment was significantly higher in exposed group than nonexposed group and personnel dust exposure level were exceeded above the NIOSH recommended level. In addition, respiratory ailments were found to be higher in exposed group than the nonexposed group. So, this study has established the need for an advanced understanding of the quantifiable and measurable remedies for protection of lung disorder of coal mine workers.

Keywords:

• Cigarette smoking
• coal miners
• pulmonary function
• respiratory morbidity

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the management of the colliery for allowing permission in performing the study. The authors also thank the medical and safety officer for giving their valuable time. The employees are thanked for their cooperation throughout the project work. A word of thanks also goes to the Department of Physiology, Serampore College for providing the instrument facility.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by PG Grant of Department of Physiology, Serampore College.