Silicosis and tuberculosis in Zambian miners

Emmanuel M. Mulenga, Hugh B. Miller, Thomson Sinkala, Tracy A. Hysong, Jefferey L. Burgess

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

Silicosis and tuberculosis (TB) are significant mining-related illnesses in developing countries. The purpose of this study was to examine annual cases of these diseases in Zambian miners, including comparison of periods before (1960-1970) and after (1992-2002) the arrival of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The Occupational Health and Safety Research Bureau of Zambia reported 2,114 cases from 1945 to 2002. Of these, 22.7% were silicosis, 65.4% TB, and the remaining 11.9% silicotuberculosis. While silicosis cases decreased from 28.6% to 12.4% with the arrival of HIV/AIDS, there was a large increase in tuberculosis cases (37.1% to 86.1%), with a corresponding decrease in silicotuberculosis cases (34.3% to 1.6%). Although silicosis remains an occupational health issue in Zambian miners, the most significant problem appears to be the marked increase in cases of TB.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)259-262
Number of pages4
JournalInternational Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health
Volume11
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2005

Keywords

  • AIDS
  • HIV
  • Silicosis
  • Tuberculosis
  • Zambia

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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