The evaluation of the smoking cessation behaviors of coal miners according to the health belief model: A cross-sectional study.

The aim of this descriptive and cross-sectional study was to evaluate smoking characteristics and smoking cessation behaviors among smoking coal miners according to the Health Belief Model (HBM). The population of this cross sectional study consisted of 582 coal miners, while the sample consisted of 473 miners who agreed to participate in the study. The miners working above ground obtained significantly higher scores compared to those who worked underground (p = 0.027). There was a significant positive correlation between smoking costs and perceived susceptibility (p < 0.001; r = 0.249) sub dimension scores, while smoking costs also had a weak positive correlation with perceived severity (p < 0.050; r = 0.179). In addition, many sub dimensions of the HBM-SCS were found to be correlated (p < 0.001). This finding shows that workers who have smoking costs may have made smoking cessation a strategic goal. Smoking habits are widespread among coal miners, and it was thought that further efforts should be made to explain to those coal miners the health hazards of smoking.

Estimating the burden of lung cancer in Canada attributed to occupational radon exposure using a novel exposure assessment method.

OBJECTIVE: Exposure to radon causes lung cancer. The scope and impact of exposure among Canadian workers have not been assessed. Our study estimated occupational radon exposure in Canada and its associated lung cancer burden. METHODS: Exposed workers were identified among the working population during the risk exposure period (1961-2001) using data from the Canadian Census and Labour Force Survey. Exposure levels were assigned based on 12,865 workplace radon measurements for indoor workers and assumed to be 1800 mg/m3 for underground workers. Lung cancer risks were calculated using the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR) VI exposure-age-concentration model. Population attributable fractions were calculated with Levin's equation and applied to 2011 Canadian lung cancer statistics. RESULTS: Approximately 15.5 million Canadian workers were exposed to radon during the risk exposure period. 79% of exposed workers were exposed to radon levels < 50 Bq/m3 and 4.8% were exposed to levels > 150 Bq/m3. We estimated that 0.8% of lung cancers in Canada were attributable to occupational radon exposure, corresponding to approximately 188 incident lung cancers in 2011. CONCLUSIONS: The lung cancer burden associated with occupational radon exposure in Canada is small, with the greatest burden occurring among those exposed to low levels of radon.

Burden of disease: A scoping review of HIV/AIDS and TB in occupational noise-induced hearing loss.

BACKGROUND: Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL) does not occur in isolation from other influencing factors such as health conditions and illnesses like human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV and AIDS), as well as tuberculosis (TB). How the burden of disease influences the occurrence and/or management of ONIHL becomes a key if the goal of hearing conservation programmes (HCPs) is to be achieved within these contexts. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this scoping review was to conduct an investigation on how the burden of disease's influence on ONIHL is reported in literature, with a specific focus on the most prevalent diseases in South African mines - HIV and AIDS and TB. METHOD: A scoping review was conducted using the Arksey and O'Malley's framework. A search was conducted in five electronic bibliographic databases and the grey literature. RESULTS: The search procured 10 publications, with two specific to ONIHL within the South African context. In addition to the two publications specific to TB and ONIHL, findings revealed a serious gap in the evidence around the scoping review question globally. This obvious lack of investigations into the influence of these two conditions in the South African mining context raises serious implications about the responsiveness, and proactive nature of HCPs within this population. CONCLUSION: Considering the burden of diseases on otology and audiology is critical as certain diseases cause hearing impairment either as a primary effect, as a secondary/opportunistic effect or as a side effect of treatment options for that disease. An employee suffering from any such disease with concomitant exposure to hazardous noise levels presents an even bigger challenge to HCPs if such is not taken into consideration in the conception, implementation and monitoring of HCPs.

Those Who Don't Return: Improving Efforts to Address Tuberculosis Among Former Miners in Southern Africa.

Despite increasing awareness regarding the role of oscillating migration in the mining industry as a major driving force in the spread of tuberculosis (TB) throughout southern Africa, very little work has focused on the historical and contextual factors which may contribute to former migrant miners' present-day risk of TB. Most research regarding migration-related and occupational influences on TB has been done on current miners still employed by the mining industry. Through both a historical and contemporary lens, this paper explores and elucidates the need to address the TB epidemic among former migrant mine workers and provides considerations to improve current interventions among this critical population.

DNA damage assessment with buccal micronucleus cytome assay in Turkish coal miners.

The aim of this study was to assess DNA damage in Turkish coal miners with the buccal micronucleus cytome (BMCyt assay as the least invasive and therefore most practical method that may find wider application in coal miner biomonitoring. Buccal epithelial cell samples were taken from 54 coal miners and 42 controls from Zonguldak, Turkey to establish their micronucleus (MN), binucleus (BN), condensed chromatin (CC), karyorrhectic (KHC), karyolytic (KYL), nuclear bud (NBUD), and pyknotic (PYC) frequencies. We also analysed the effects of confounding factors such as age, years of work at the mine, smoking, alcohol drinking, and use of protective equipment on differences in MN frequencies. Two miners had confirmed and three suspect pneumoconiosis, whereas 49 displayed normal chest radiographs. MN, BN, KHC, and NBUD frequencies were significantly higher in coal miners than controls. Years of work at the mine also showed a significant effect on buccal MN frequencies in coal miners, but we found no correlation between MN frequencies and age, smoking, and alcohol consumption. In conclusion, BMCyt assay proved itself an accurate and practical screening method, as it can detect DNA damage much earlier than pneumoconiosis develops.

Correlates of psychological distress among workers in the mining industry in remote Australia: Evidence from a multi-site cross-sectional survey.

The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of psychological distress in employees in the metalliferous mining industry in Australia, and to examine associated demographic, health, and workplace characteristics. A cross sectional survey was conducted among 1,799 participants from four metalliferous mines. Psychological distress was measured by the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), alongside other measures of personal demographics, health history, health behaviour, and workplace characteristics. Univariate and multivariate statistical methods were used to examine associations between psychological distress and personal and workplace characteristics. Levels of moderate to very high psychological distress were significantly higher in this sample (44.4%) compared to the general population (27.2%). Moderate to very high psychological distress was significantly associated with younger age; individual health factors (a prior history of depression, anxiety, or drug/alcohol problems); health behaviours (using illicit drugs in the last month); and a range of workplace factors (concern about losing their job; lower satisfaction with work; working shifts of over 12 hours duration; working in mining for financial reasons and social factors (poorer social networks). The identification of a number of social, personal and workplace factors associated with high psychological distress present useful targets to inform the development of tailored workplace interventions to reduce distress in metalliferous mine employees.

Barriers to tuberculosis care delivery among miners and their families in South Africa: an ethnographic study.

SETTING: South African miners suffer the highest tuberculosis (TB) rates in the world. Current efforts to stem the epidemic are insufficient. Historical legacies and persistent disease burden demand innovative approaches to reshape health care delivery to better serve this population. OBJECTIVE: To characterize social and behavioral health determinants for successful TB care delivery and treatment from the perspective of miners/ex-miners, health care workers and policy makers/managers. DESIGN: We conducted applied ethnography with 30 miners/ex-miners, 13 family/community members, 14 health care providers, and 47 local policy makers/managers in South Africa. RESULTS: Miners/ex-miners felt health care delivery systems failed to meet their needs. Many had experienced unnecessary physical and psychological harm due to limited health education about TB, minimal engagement in their own care, lack of trust in providers, and a system that did not value their experience. Stigma and fear associated with TB result in denial of symptoms and delays in care seeking. Health care providers and policy makers/managers felt discouraged by system constraints in providing optimal care. CONCLUSION: Our findings describe long-term effects of perpetual TB misinformation and stigma resulting from fear and disempowerment among miners and their families/communities. To reduce the TB burden, there is an urgent need to co-design a care delivery system with miners to better meet their needs.

Moral Values Congruence and Miners' Policy Following Behavior: The Role of Supervisor Morality.

Ethical culture construction is beneficial to maximize policy following behavior (PFB) and avoid accidents of coal miners in an economic downturn. This paper examines the congruence between coal mine ethical culture values (ECVs) and miners' moral values (MVs) and the relationship with PFB. To shed light on this relationship, supervisor moral values (SMVs) act as a key moderator. We build on the initial structure of values to measure ECVs, MVs, and SMVs. At the same time, available congruence was defined to describe the relationship between the two values. Drawing upon a survey of 267 miners in Chinese large state-owned coal mining enterprises, results revealed that ECVs-MVs congruence had a linear relationship with intrinsic PFB (IPFB) and a non-linear relationship with extrinsic PFB. These findings demonstrate that SMVs had a moderating effect on the relationship between ECVs-MVs congruence and extrinsic PFB. Thus, we continued to calculate the available congruence scope in tested enterprises. Furthermore, this study gives relative management proposals and suggestions to improve miners' moral standards and to reduce coal mine accidents.

Gold Mining in Ecuador: A Cross-Sectional Assessment of Mercury in Urine and Medical Symptoms in Miners from Portovelo/Zaruma.

Mercury is a toxic metal and is used in small scale gold mining. In Portovelo, Ecuador, mercury has been an environmental and health problem for decades. The target of this study was to assess the mercury concentration in the urine of miners from Portovelo/Zaruma to establish a prevalence of high values. Eight hundred and sixty-five (865) urine samples were collected and analysed for their mercury content, using cold vapor atom absorption spectroscopy. The prevalence of high mercury values (>25 µg/L) was estimated. Forty-four (44) miners with mercury levels >15 µg/L filled in a questionnaire for characteristics and possible confounders, and were examined for intoxication symptoms to establish the ten points medical score sum. The median urine value was 1.8 µg/L; 78.3% of miners were below 7 µg/L and were not at risk of an intoxication, whereas 5.9% of miners exceeded the limit of 25 µg/L and were probable to experience intoxication symptoms. The medical score sum had a range of 2 to 8 points with a median of 6. The low prevalence of high mercury concentrations shows that the politics and techniques to eliminate the use of mercury are being successfully implemented. Further studies are needed to identify factors enabling this process.

Energy expenditure and nutritional status of coal miners: A cross-sectional study.

The objectives of this study were to assess the nutritional status, daily energy intake, and daily energy expenditure of coal miners in Turkey. A total of 135 healthy coal miners (aged 19-64 years) were evaluated. Heart rates were measured using Polar watches, and the total energy expenditure was calculated using physical activity level formula and Hiilloskorpi equation. The average body mass index of the participants was 25.7 ± 3.98 kg/m2, and the average energy intake was 3,973.7 ± 420.85 kcal. According to Dietary Reference Intakes, the energy and nutrient intakes of the miners were adequate, except for the intake of vitamin D. The coal miners were found to be at moderate (43.0%), heavy (41.5%), and very heavy (13.3%) activity levels. Calculations of the energy expenditure at work were found to be 2,189.8 ± 376.19 to 2,788.8 ± 359.89 kcal per day. Further studies have to be conducted for developing national standards for each occupation.