respiratory disease
Credit: Dominik Vanyi/Unsplash
New federal rule targets hazardous silica dust in mining
The recent initiative by U.S. federal authorities introduces stringent measures to combat the exposure of miners to dangerous silica dust, a move set to prompt significant health surveillance advancements in the mining industry. It could also increase understanding of health impacts among workers in metal mining connected to the energy transition.
In short:
- The Biden administration's new regulation aims to control silica dust exposure in mines, enhancing worker health protection and data collection on related diseases.
- Increased medical surveillance and periodic health examinations will be provided at no cost to miners, across all mine types.
- The rule emphasizes engineering controls over personal protective equipment to meet dust exposure limits.
- It may also advance understanding of the rate at which similar illnesses are increasing among mine workers in nickel, zinc and other metals tied to the energy transition.
Key quote:
"Doctors are diagnosing and treating more miners with black lung and other respiratory diseases than ever before, including at younger and younger ages.”
— Robert Cohen, clinical professor, University of Illinois Chicago
Why this matters:
Prolonged exposure to silica dust has been linked to an increased risk of developing lung cancer. The fine particles of silica can penetrate deep into the lungs, where they can cause cellular damage and increase the likelihood of cancerous growths. With demand increasing for critical metals necessary in the transition to cleaner energy sources, it's important to understand health risks for those miners as well.
Related: Study suggests pollution plays an outsized role in western Pennsylvania cancer rates.
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Newsletter
Lung conditions will be made worse by climate change, say researchers
Respiratory experts are calling on governments to reduce emissions and improve air quality, reports Danny Halpin in the Independent.
In a nutshell:
Respiratory experts have issued a stark warning about the profound threat that climate change and air pollution pose to individuals with lung conditions. They emphasize the urgent need for action to combat climate change and reduce air pollution. The impacts of climate change, including rising temperatures, altered weather patterns, increased allergens, wildfires, and air pollution from fossil fuels, worsen respiratory conditions and can even lead to new ones. Air pollution, linked to both greenhouse gases and health risks, was responsible for 6.7 million global deaths in 2019, with 373,000 occurring in Europe. These experts call for the European Union to align its air quality standards with those of the World Health Organization, advocating for stricter limits on fine particles and nitrogen dioxide. They underscore that addressing climate change and reducing emissions would yield substantial and immediate health benefits, particularly benefiting respiratory patients who are among the most vulnerable.
Key quote:
Professor Zorana Jovanovic Andersen of the University of Copenhagen and an author of the report said: “Climate change affects everyone’s health, but arguably, respiratory patients are among the most vulnerable.
“These are people who already experience breathing difficulties and they are far more sensitive to our changing climate. Their symptoms will become worse, and for some this will be fatal.”
The big picture:
The burning of fossil fuels, a significant source of air pollution, carries potential health consequences worth examining. Exposure to air pollution stemming from fossil fuel combustion can result in various adverse health effects. Long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with chronic diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heightened risks of heart ailments, including heart attacks and strokes. Children are particularly vulnerable due to their developing lungs, potentially setting the stage for lifelong health challenges.
Read the article at the Independent.
Meanwhile, as the nation’s oil and gas output reaches record highs, new research shows that the harms from this boom go well beyond cranking up global temperatures.
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Photo by Adrian Lange on Unsplash
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