Publications

Occupational exposures are a common and preventable cause of lung disease. About one in six cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma worldwide are related to work.

An estimated 49·5 million small-scale miners worldwide are exposed to high concentrations of silica during their work. The substantial morbidity and mortality of silicosis and tuberculosis among workers exposed to such intensities have been documented. This Viewpoint raises concern at the failure to respond to a growing epidemic of lung disease (predominantly silicosis and tuberculosis) among small-scale miners.

Limited data among miners in Tanzania suggests prevalence of silicosis, obstructive lung disease and restrictive lung disease to be around 1.6%, 1.9% and 8.8% respectively. Our study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with silicosis and impaired lung function among tanzanite mining community in northern Tanzania. We conducted a cross-sectional study, involving 330 miners and 330 peri-mining community members in Mererani mines.

Dear Editor We undertook an evaluation of former TB patients for pulmonary rehabilitation. Our diagnostic evaluation aimed to implement clinical standards for post-TB lung disease (PTLD) using operational research. 1 Nightingale et al. also issued a clinical statement, addressing diverse post-TB morbidities such as social, economic, neurological, cardiovascular, PTLD and psychiatric impairments. 2 In low-and middle-income African countries (such as Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya), only 4 in 10 clinicians can diagnose PTLD, contributing to an underestimation of its burden.

The London Underground (LU) employs over 19,000 staff, some of whom are exposed to elevated concentrations of particulate matter (PM) within the network. This study quantified the occupational exposure of LU staff to subway PM and investigated the possible association with sickness absence (SA).

A job exposure matrix to quantify subway PM_2.5 staff exposure was developed by undertaking measurement campaigns across the LU network. The association between exposure and SA was evaluated using zero-inflated mixed-effects negative binomial models.

Background

Small airways obstruction (SAO) has been associated with occupational exposures. Whether exposure to harmful occupational agents impacts the survival of people with SAO is unknown. Our aim was to estimate the mortality risk associated with occupational exposures among people with SAO.

Methods

Background

Small airways obstruction (SAO) is common in general populations. It has been associated with respiratory symptoms, cardiometabolic diseases, and progression to COPD over time. Whether SAO predicts mortality is largely unknown.

Research Question

Is spirometry-defined SAO associated with increased mortality?

Methods

Background Many interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) have clear causal relationships with environmental and occupational exposures. Exposure identification can assist with diagnosis, understanding disease pathogenesis, prognostication and prevention of disease progression and occurrence in others at risk. Despite the importance of exposure identification in ILD, there is no standardised assessment approach. Many questionnaires are in clinical and research use, yet their utility, applicability, relevance and performance characteristics are unknown.