Ventilatory Capacity and Lung Volumes of US Coal Miners

Between 1969 and 1971 the lung volumes and ventilatory capacity of 9, 076 US coal miners were determined. In miners with simple coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, no relationship existed between ventilatory capacity and radiographic category. However, complicated pneumoconiosis led to definite ventilatory impairment, in contrast, residual volume showed a slight increase with increasing radiographic category of simple pneumoconiosis.

Significant geographic variations in ventilatory capacity and lung volumes occurred that appeared to be related, partly to the type of coal dust to which the miners were exposed, partly to the ethnic origin of the miners, and partly to other miscellaneous nonoccupational factors.

While the occupation of coal mining may, in certain instances, lead to very minor reductions of ventilatory capacity, such reductions are minimal in the absence of complicated pneumoconiosis and would not be associated with respiratory disability.