Association between diesel engine exhaust exposure and lung function in Australian gold miners

Mengran Du; Graham L Hall; Peter Franklin; Aw Bill Musk; Benjamin J Mullins; Nicholas de Klerk; Novak S J Elliott; Nita Sodhi-Berry; Fraser Brims; Alison Reid

doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2020.113507

Association between diesel engine exhaust exposure and lung function in Australian gold miners

Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2020 May:226:113507. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2020.113507. Epub 2020 Mar 8.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ School of Public Health, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia.
² Telethon Kids Institute, 15 Hospital Avenue, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia; School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia.
³ School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.
⁴ School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia; Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.
⁵ Telethon Kids Institute, 15 Hospital Avenue, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia; School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.
⁶ Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia; Curtin Medical School, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia.
⁷ School of Public Health, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia. Electronic address: alison.reid@curtin.edu.au.

PMID: 32160584
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2020.113507

Abstract

Previous studies have reported that miners (and other workers) exposed to high levels of diesel engine exhaust (DEE) have an increased risk of lung function decline. The main objective of this study was to evaluate associations between exposure to different components associated with DEE in relation to lung function across a 12-h working shift. Eighty underground gold miners and twenty surface miners completed spirometry and questionnaires at the beginning and end of their 12 h work shift. Personal exposure to elemental carbon (EC), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), particle size and particle number were monitored during their shift. Multiple regression models were used to examine the associations between DEE and lung function, adjusting for a range of covariates. Underground miners were exposed to higher levels of EC, VOCs, NO₂, and particle number and larger mean particle size than surface miners. Cross-shift reduction in Z-score value of FEV₁/FVC in underground miners was statistically significantly greater than those of surface miners. The cross-shift change in Z-score value of FEV₁/FVC was associated with exposure to higher concentration of EC and particle number, but not with VOCs, NO₂ and particle size. Occupational exposure to diesel engine exhaust in current Australian gold mines is substantial. Exposures were higher in underground miners and had a negative association with their lung function over a single 12-h shift.

Keywords: Diesel engine exhaust; Lung function; Miners; Spirometry.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Air Pollutants, Occupational / analysis*
Australia
Carbon / analysis*
Environmental Monitoring
Female
Forced Expiratory Volume
Gold*
Humans
Inhalation Exposure / analysis*
Lung / physiopathology*
Male
Middle Aged
Mining*
Nitrogen Dioxide / analysis
Occupational Exposure / analysis*
Particulate Matter / analysis*
Spirometry
Vehicle Emissions / analysis*
Vital Capacity
Volatile Organic Compounds / analysis

Substances

Air Pollutants, Occupational
Particulate Matter
Vehicle Emissions
Volatile Organic Compounds
Carbon
Gold
Nitrogen Dioxide