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. 2007 Jun;41(2):38-47.
doi: 10.4314/gmj.v41i2.55292.

Respiratory symptoms and lung function impairment in underground gold miners in ghana

Fy Bio  1 , S Sadhra, C Jackson, Ps Burge
Affiliations

Respiratory symptoms and lung function impairment in underground gold miners in ghana

Fy Bio et al. Ghana Med J. 2007 Jun.

Abstract

Summary background: This is the first study in Ghana in the Obuasi gold mines where the silica content of the respirable dust is 10%, less than in previously studied gold mines, with only 23% of the miners having ever smoked.

Objectives: The study was to assess the prevalence of respiratory impairment in the Ghanaian gold miner and to quantify the effects of the respirable dust on pulmonary function

Design: A cross sectional epidemiological study

Method: The study was carried out using MRC respiratory symptoms questionnaire, spirometry, and personal respirable dust measurements.

Results: A total of 1236 miners were studied. The mean age was 39.7 +/-5.8 (SD) years with a mean of 12.6 +/- 6.7 (SD) years underground service and a mean total cumulative exposure to dust of 10.34 +/-5.61 (SD) mg.m(-3).years. The prevalence of chronic bronchitis was 21.2% and not clearly related to cumulative exposure. MRC breathlessness grade>/=2 was 31.3%, significantly related to cumulative respirable dust exposure after adjustment of age and smoking. There was however significant reduction in FEF(25-75%) with increasing dust exposure and an interaction with ever smoking. There was no correlation between cumulative exposure to respirable dust and FEV(1) % predicted in any group, suggesting that exposure to respirable silica at a mean level of 0.06 mg/m(3) had no deleterious effect on FEV(1) in a population with little tuberculosis, good housing and a low level of cigarette smoking.

Conclusion: The prevalence of chronic bronchitis in the Ghanaian gold mine is related more to smoking than any occupational factors.

Keywords: Gold mining; breathlessness; chronic bronchitis; lung functions; respirable dust.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Effects of increasing total cumulative dust exposure on forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Effects of increasing total cumulative dust exposure on forced ventilatory capacity (FVC)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Effects of increasing total cumulative dust exposure on mid-forced expiratory flow (FEF25–75).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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