Coal-dust Exposure and the Prevalence of Airway Allergic Diseases and Atopy

Overview

Background:
Problems related to employing increasing number of allergic individuals inspired us to carry on the study aimed to determine whether the coal mining contributes to the development of asthma and atopy in coal miners (currently 10 800 coal miners are employed in Silesian and Moravian regions). Atopy (genetic predisposition to increased production of specific IgE antibodies against allergens commonly occuring in the environment) is an important risk factor for asthma and other allergic diseases.

Objective:
Find out whether workplace exposure to coal mine dust in Ostrava-Karviná mines contributes to the development of allergic diseases and atopy in miners more frequently than in general population.

Methods:
In the cross-sectional study (2004/2005) we studied the occurence of respiratory diseases including signs of bronchial hyperreactivity and chronic bronchitis (according to the WHO definition, spirometry, bronchoprovocation tests if indicated), allergic diseases in personal history (mucosal and cutaneous) and atopy (presence of specific IgE antibodies in blood against common inhalation allergens tested by Phadiatop) in 702 coal miners (mean age 49 years, SD 16) and 360 subjects of a control group (mean age 37 years, SD 12) who were recruited from men who had never been exposed to dust and potential professional allergens in their occupational environment. Duration of exposure to mine dust and smoking were other factors followed in miners. All respondents (N = 1062) were examined by a physician at the clinic.

Results:
Prevalence of atopy (34 %) was significantly higher in younger coal-miners (19–30 years) compared to older ones (48–60 years) in whom the prevalence was 12 % (P = 0.0025). There was no significantly higher prevalence of atopy and allergy in miners compared to controls in any age group.

Conclusion:
The results suggest that coal mining in Ostrava-Karviná mines does not increase the occurence of atopy and allergic diseases and therefore risk for allergy in coal-miners.

Key words:
coal mining, allergic diseases, atopy