Chronic obstructive lung disease in gold miners
Wiles, F.J.; Faure, M.H.
Inhaled Particles 4 Pt 2: 727-735
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0301-1577 PMID: 1236246 Document Number: 89086
A survey has been made of 2209 gold miners in the Republic of South Africa. The result showed that there is a significant dose-response relationship between dust inhaled and both chronic bronchitis and airways obstruction. This is found in smokers, ex-smokers and non-smokers. The effect of smoking is more potent than that of dust but there does not appear to be a dose-response relationship in regard to smoking. The effect of smoking differs from the effect of dust in that ex-smokers show less bronchitis and less airways obstruction than smokers, but ex-miners do not show a similar advantage over working miners.