New Edition of Lung Disease Data Report Updates Resource With Newest Available Statistics

Contact: Fred Blosser (202) 401-3749
July 7, 2003, 2003

Work-Related Lung Disease Surveillance Report 2002, the latest edition of a widely used compendium of information on the occurrences of and trends in occupational respiratory diseases and exposures, is available from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention=s (CDC) 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.

Notable findings from the report include the following:

• Asbestosis deaths increased from fewer than 100 in 1968 to more than 1,250 in 1999, with no apparent leveling off of this trend. Asbestosis is now the most frequently recorded cause of death among dust-induced occupational diseases, which are known as pneumoconioses.
• In contrast to asbestosis, coal workers= pneumoconiosis and silicosis deaths continued to decline, from 1,990 and 308, respectively, in 1990, to 1,003 and 187 in 1999. Despite this decline, significantly elevated silicosis mortality in the miscellaneous non-metallic mineral and stone products, iron and steel foundries, and structural clay products industries was accompanied by quartz dust levels in those same industries that frequently exceeded the permissible or recommended exposure limits.
• Nearly 2,500 malignant mesothelioma deaths were recorded in 1999. Of those deaths, nearly 20 percent occurred among women, and more than one-third occurred among residents of just five states: California, Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio.
• More than 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.

“By compiling data from many different government sources in one easily accessible place, the WoRLD Surveillance Report saves hours if not days of work for researchers, occupational health professionals, or others who have a role in preventing occupational lung diseases that affect nearly every type of industry and occupation,” said NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D. “Understanding current trends in such cases is a key step toward identifying employee populations at risk and developing effective preventive measures. Work-Related Lung Disease Surveillance Report 2002, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2003-111, is available by calling toll-free 1-800-35-NIOSH (1-800-356-4674). For further information about NIOSH research, visit the NIOSH Web page .