Evaluación de la exposición a polvo de carbón y sílice en minería subterránea en tres departamentos de Colombia

Introduction Coal miner's pneumoconiosis is a chronic and irreversible disease that has become a public health problem. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of pneumoconiosis and its associated factors in coal miners in the Colombian regions of Boyacá, Cundinamarca and Norte de Santander. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study in 476 coal miners, in which the prevalence of pneumoconiosis was measured and as associated factors the levels of coal dust and silica and occupational conditions. Medical evaluation, chest radiography according to International Labor Organization (ILO) criteria, spirometries and genetic analysis for identification of Glutation S Transferasa (GST) polymorphisms and OGG1 and XRCC1 repair enzymes were performed. Results: In 31 companies, 479 environmental monitoring were carried out and 476 workers were evaluated, with working time in mining between 10 and 57 years. The prevalence of pneumoconiosis was estimated at 33.8% (95% CI: 27.0%, 41.3%). In Cox's multivariable regression model with constant risk time for pneumoconiosis this was significantly associated with work in medium enterprises compared with work in small enterprises (RP = 2.00, 95% CI: 0.995, 2.690, p = 0.052), with the level of severe exposure to coal dust according to the exposure index compared to the low level (RP = 2.055, 95% CI 1.043, 4.048, p = 0.038), and with an age in underground mining of 25 years or more compared to less than 25 years (25.0-.29.9, RP = 2.199, 95% CI: 1.449, 3.338, p = 0.001,> = 30, RP = 2.072, 95% CI: 1.321, 3.250, p = 0.003). Conclusions: The prevalence of pneumoconiosis in underground mining workers in the three departments is very high and is associated with exposure to severe levels of coal dust, occupational exposure greater than and equal to 25 years and work in medium enterprises.