It is well known that various cytokines and growth factors secreted from macrophages/monocytes play the key role in the pathogenesis of pneumoconiosis. These can act as biosensors for the prediction of pneumoconiosis. To evaluate which cytokines can be used as sensitive biomarkers in pneumoconiosis, we measured tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and platelet-derived growth factor-AA (PDGF-AA) in supernatant of monocytes with or without coal dust (5 mg/ml) and serum in 42 coal miners with pneumoconiosis and ten healthy control. The coal-stimulated release of TNF-alpha and IL-8 from blood monocytes was significant increased in pneumoconiosis patients compared with controls. The level of TNF-alpha and IL-8 in blood serum was higher in subjects with pneumoconiosis than in controls.