A review of information published since 1995 on coal mine dust exposures and associated health outcomes

October 2010

NIOSH Docket Number 210

In 1995 NIOSH published a major review and report of recommendations, entitled Criteria for a Recommended Standard – Occupational Exposure to Respirable Coal Mine Dust. This new Current Intelligence Bulletin updates the information on coal mine dust exposures and associated health effects from 1995 to the present. In part, the intent is to determine whether the 1995 recommendations, in this respect, remain valid, and to what extent, if any, modifications or additions are needed to those recommendations. The report does not deal with, nor discuss, issues of sampling and analytical feasibility nor technical feasibility in achieving compliance.

Peer Review Agenda page: A review of information published since 1995 on coal mine dust exposures and associated health outcomes

Peer Review

Title: A review of information published since 1995 on coal mine dust exposures and associated health outcomes

Cross-Clearance Agencies: None

Anticipated Date of Dissemination: August 30, 2010

Subject of planned Report: Health effects of coal mine dust exposures

Purpose of Planned Report: To update the 1995 coal criteria document (1995-106), thus potentially facilitating MSHA rulemaking.

Type of Dissemination: Highly Influential

Timing of Review: 08-30-2010 to 09-17-2010

Primary Disciplines or Expertise: Pulmonolgy, knowledge of coal mining

Type of Review: Individual

Anticipated Number of Reviewers: Four

Reviewers Selected by: NIOSH

Public Nominations Requested for Reviewers: No

Opportunities for the Public to Comment: Yes, August 9, 2010

Peer Reviewers Provided with Public Comments before Their Review: Yes

Reviewers:

Cecile S. Rose
Academic and Professional Credentials: Professor and Director of the Occupational and Environmental Medicine Clinic (MD, MPH)
Organizational Affiliation: National Jewish Medical Center, Denver, CO
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Pulmonologist
Recommended by: NIOSH
Robert Cohen
Academic and Professional Credentials: Chairman, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Cook County Health and Hospitals System and Medical Director, National Coalition of Black Lung and Respiratory Disease Clinics (MD, FCCP)
Organizational Affiliation: National Coalition of Black Lung and Respiratory Disease Clinics
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Pulmonologist
Recommended by: NIOSH
Joseph A. Lamonica
Academic and Professional Credentials: Currently consultant to the Bituminous Coal Operators’ Association (BCOA). From 1994-1999 served as Vice president for Health, Safety and Training of BCOA, Washington, DC. From 1986-1994 served as Corporate Director – Health, Safety and Risk Engineering of Island Creek Coal Company, Lexington, KY
Organizational Affiliation: Consultant for BOCA, Aiken, SC
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Health and safety in coal mining
Recommended by: NIOSH
Dennis B. O’Dell
Academic and Professional Credentials: Administrator of Occupational Health and Safety for the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) union since 1994
Organizational Affiliation: UMWA
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Coal mine
Recommended by: NIOSH

Charge to Peer Reviewers

Thank you for agreeing to take the time to review our Current Intelligence Bulletin entitled A review of information published since 1995 on coal mine dust exposures and associated health outcomes. This Current Intelligence Bulletin is intended to summarize information on lung diseases caused by inhalation of coal mine dust that has come available since the publication of the NIOSH Coal Criteria Document (Criteria for a Recommended Standard – Occupational Exposure to Respirable Coal Mine Dust) in 1995. In addition to presenting and reviewing this information, the overall aim of the Current Intelligence Bulletin was to determine if the newer information continues to support the primary conclusions and recommendations made in the 1995 Coal Criteria Document. The charge to the reviewers is then thus:

to assess whether the Current Intelligence Bulletin has fully included all relevant material in its evaluation that is pursuant to its aims;
to evaluate whether the presentation and summarization of that material is fair and unbiased;
to determine whether the overall conclusions are accurate and supportable, including those relating to support for the 1995 conclusions and recommendations;
to evaluate whether the organization and format of the material as presented is satisfactory for the intended purpose.

The main purpose of this letter is to remind you of the charge for the written review and to provide you with a template. In addition to this letter we are sending, for your convenience, an electronic version of the template in Word. When completed, please return the form to me, either electronically or hard copy by Tuesday, September 14, 2010. For your convenience we have sent you a copy of the 1995 Criteria Document.

The most important target audience is the Mine Safety and Health Administration, but in addition the United Mine Workers of America, miners, mine operators, the American Lung Association, and other scholars may show interest. The review should address issues of comprehension, scientific accuracy, appropriateness of the material, and depth of scope. The purpose of the review is to obtain opinions that may improve the quality of the Current Intelligence Bulletin document. Comments will be used in our revision of the document.

A review of information published since 1995 on coal mine dust exposures and associated health outcomes

October 2010

NIOSH Docket Number 210

Document and Responses to Reviewers’ Comments

Material Under Consideration

Submissions in order of receipt

Peer Review