Ecologic Analysis of Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis Mortality in Illinois.
Authors
Wideroff-L; Hryhorczuk-DO; Holden-J
Source
NIOSH 1990 Nov:1398-1400
Abstract
The ability of ecologic analysis to statistically detect an association between coal production and coal worker pneumoconiosis (CWP) mortality in the state of Illinois was examined. All cases of CWP were identified through a review of computer tapes of Illinois death certificates. There were 367 white male CWP deaths from 1980 through 1984, seven among black males and one among white females. Mortality rates ranged from zero in 61 counties to 322.4 per 100,000 persons for 5 years in Franklin County, with a state average of 3.7 per 100,000 persons for 5 years. Forty six of 102 counties met the study criteria of having either CWP mortality in 1980 through 1984 or coal production in 1965. Forty one of these counties reported CWP deaths and five produced coal but reported no CWP deaths. Figures were gathered for underground versus surface mining. Franklin County had the highest cumulative coal production of all Illinois counties from 1882 through 1965 and all of its mines were underground. The authors conclude that ecologic analysis is able to detect the known association between CWP mortality and exposure to coal dust in underground mines. CWP mortality is more strongly associated with underground mining than surface mining. It is not possible to determine if any specific individual death was a result of exposure in surface mines without obtaining individual work histories. A major advantage of ecologic studies is that they do not require primary data collection but may rely instead on preexisting sources of data.
Keywords
Coal-workers; Coal-workers-pneumoconiosis; Lung-disease; Coal-dust; Dust-exposure; Dust-inhalation; Lung-irritants; Mortality-data; Mortality-surveys; Epidemiology;
Document Type
Conference/Symposia Proceedings;
Identifying No.
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 90-108
Source Name
Proceedings of the VIIth International Pneumoconioses Conference
