ADVANCEMENT OF THE SCIENCE
which is the time between initial exposure to asbestos and disease diagnosis (Huh et al., 2022), is between 20 and 30 years (Lazarus & Philip, 2011) and an average of 40 years for most asbestos-related diseases (Świątkowska et al., 2016; Teta et al., 2008). Furthermore, according to Lanphear and Buncher (1992), asbestos exposure has a median latency period of 32 years. This long latency period creates an additional health burden, in addi- tion to other age-related health challenges, for workers as they advance in age. The number of deaths among U.S. residents from asbestosis was 13,363 and 13,024 for 1995–2004 and 2005–2014, respectively, with the highest mortality in the age group 75–84 years for both periods. The age group 65–74 years ranked second for the number of deaths from asbestosis, followed by the age group ≥85 years for 1995–2004. This trend was reversed for the 2005–2014 period, with the age group ≥85 years ranked second and the age group 65–74 years ranked third (NIOSH, n.d., 2008; Table 1 and Figures 2 and 3). Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis Coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP) is an occupational lung disease and a group of pneumoconiosis that results from inhalation of respirable coal dust in the lungs (Han et al., 2015; Mazurek et al., 2018; Paul et al., 2022; Song et al., 2022). The latency period for CWP is >10 years (Zosky et al., 2016), but a study by Han et al. (2015) showed an increase in the mean latency period over the years 1970–2000. Data from CDC show that the number of deaths among U.S. residents from CWP was 11,006 and 4,801 for 1995– 2004 and 2005–2014, respectively, with the highest mortality in the age group 75–84 years for both periods. The age group ≥85 years was ranked second for the number of deaths from CWP, followed by the age group 65–74 years for both periods (NIOSH, n.d., 2008; Table 1 and Figures 2 and 3). Silicosis Silicosis is a group of pneumoconiosis that results from the occupational inhalation of crystalline silica (Hoy & Chambers, 2020; Leung et al., 2012; Mlika et al., 2023; NIOSH, 2023). Although silicosis has a long latency period of >10 years (Elderbrook et al., 2023; Reynolds & Jerome, 2021; Sato et al., 2018), heavy exposure to freshly generated silica can
FIGURE 4
Mortality and Deaths in the United States From Work-Related Respiratory Diseases
1,200,000
1,000,000
800,000
600,000
400,000
200,000
0
Age (Years) Mortality, 2019 Mortality, 2020 D eaths, 1995–2004 D eaths, 2005–2014 15–24 25–34 35–44 45–54 55–64 65–74 75–84 ≥85
lead to death within 1 year (Seaton, 2023). The number of deaths among U.S. residents from silicosis and related exposure was 1,827 and 1,167 for 1995–2004 and 2005–2014, respectively, with the highest mortality in the age range 75–84 years for both periods. The age range 65–74 years was ranked second for the number of deaths from silicosis and related exposure, followed by the age range ≥85 years for both periods (NIOSH, n.d., 2008; Table 1; Figures 2 and 3). Byssinosis Byssinosis is an occupational lung disease caused by inhaling cotton dust, jute, flax, and hemp fibers, especially in a poorly ven- tilated workplace (Corrin & Nicholson, 2011; McCarthy & Akenhead, 1946; Patel et al., 2024). The number of deaths among U.S. residents from byssinosis and related exposure was 91 and 33 for 1995–2004 and 2005–2014, respectively, showing a decline in mortality over the years. The highest mor- tality was in the age range 75–84 years for
both periods (NIOSH, n.d., 2008; Table 1; Figures 2 and 3).
All Pneumoconiosis Pneumoconiosis is a group of lung diseases that results from repeated inhalation of dust particles and fibers, typically in the work- place (Akgun, 2018; Barber & Fishwick, 2020; DeLight & Sachs, 2023; Qi et al., 2021). Pneumoconiosis has a long latency period following many years of exposure to dust particles and fiber (Barber & Fish- wick, 2020). The number of deaths among U.S. residents from all pneumoconiosis and related exposures was 28,229 and 20,548 for 1995–2004 and 2005–2014, respectively, with the highest mortality in the age range 75–84 years. The age range 65–74 years was ranked second for the number of deaths from all pneumoconiosis and related expo- sures, followed by the age range ≥85 years for 1995–2004. This trend was reversed for the 2005–2014 period, with the age range ≥85 years ranked second and the age range 65–74
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Volume 87 • Number 3
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