August 25, 2003—Work-Related Lung Disease Surveillance Report 2002, the latest edition of a compendium of information on trends in occupational respiratory diseases and exposures, is now available from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
The new edition updates the report, also known as the WoRLD Surveillance Report, with the addition of data from 1997 through 1999. Tables, figures, and maps show statistics on asbestosis, coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, silicosis, byssinosis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and respiratory tuberculosis, as well as on associated occupational dust exposures.
The updated edition also includes new sections on malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer, and “other” interstitial lung disease, as well as smoking status by industry and occupation. In addition, tables are now provided listing U.S. counties with the highest mortality from certain occupational respiratory diseases.
According to the report, asbestosis deaths have risen each year since 1968, while coal workers’ pneumoconiosis and silicosis deaths have continued to decline since 1990 in most industries. The report also states that nearly 2,500 malignant mesothelioma deaths were recorded in 1999, of which nearly 20 percent were women, and over one-third were from just five states: California, Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio.
In addition, over 2,500 cases of work-related asthma were identified from 1993 through 1999 by public health monitoring in the four states (California, Massachusetts, Michigan, and New Jersey) that participate in the NIOSH-funded Sentinel Event Notification Systems for Occupational Risks (SENSOR) program. About 80 percent of the cases involved asthma caused by occupational exposures, and another 20 percent involved pre-existing asthma aggravated by occupational exposures.
Work-Related Lung Disease Surveillance Report 2002, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2003-111, is available by calling 800-35-NIOSH (800-356-4674). The report is also available to download from NIOSH.
