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Prevalence and Correlates of Lung Function Impairment Among Miners at Nchanga Open-Pit Copper Mine in Chingola, Zambia
Abstract
Background: Mineral extraction operations are dusty operations as they are characterized by large quantities of dust emissions. Persons working in such environments are potentially exposed to the harmful effects of
respirable mineral dust, such as impaired lung function. This study investigated the prevalence and correlates of lung function impairment among open-pit miners at the Nchanga open-pit mine in Chingola, Zambia.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in which all miners aged 18 years or older and had worked in the open-pit mine for at least 3 years were eligible to participate in the study. The uncorrected Pearson's Chisquare and the Fischer's exact tests were used to determine associations between exposure factors and the outcome. The level of statistical significance was set at 5%. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for possible confounding factors. Adjusted odds
ratios and their 95% confidence intervals are reported.
Results: A total of 122 miners participated in the survey. Most of the participants were of age 45-54 years (58.2%), had more than 5 years of working experience (87.8%), and had attained secondary level education (87.7%). Overall, 27% participants (3.3% severe, 4.1% moderate, and 19.7% mild) had lung function impairment. Participants who had morning cough were 3.44 (95% CI 1.10, 10.70) times more likely to have had lung function impairment compared to those who did not have morning cough. Also, participants who had chest tightness in the past year were 2.37 (95% CI 1.22, 4.62) times more likely to have had lung function impairment compared to those who did not have chest tightness in the same period.
Conclusion: A high prevalence of lung function impairment was observed in this workforce. Morning cough and chest tightness could be used for early
detection of cases of lung function impairment, and appropriate measures taken to reduce its prevalence.
respirable mineral dust, such as impaired lung function. This study investigated the prevalence and correlates of lung function impairment among open-pit miners at the Nchanga open-pit mine in Chingola, Zambia.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in which all miners aged 18 years or older and had worked in the open-pit mine for at least 3 years were eligible to participate in the study. The uncorrected Pearson's Chisquare and the Fischer's exact tests were used to determine associations between exposure factors and the outcome. The level of statistical significance was set at 5%. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for possible confounding factors. Adjusted odds
ratios and their 95% confidence intervals are reported.
Results: A total of 122 miners participated in the survey. Most of the participants were of age 45-54 years (58.2%), had more than 5 years of working experience (87.8%), and had attained secondary level education (87.7%). Overall, 27% participants (3.3% severe, 4.1% moderate, and 19.7% mild) had lung function impairment. Participants who had morning cough were 3.44 (95% CI 1.10, 10.70) times more likely to have had lung function impairment compared to those who did not have morning cough. Also, participants who had chest tightness in the past year were 2.37 (95% CI 1.22, 4.62) times more likely to have had lung function impairment compared to those who did not have chest tightness in the same period.
Conclusion: A high prevalence of lung function impairment was observed in this workforce. Morning cough and chest tightness could be used for early
detection of cases of lung function impairment, and appropriate measures taken to reduce its prevalence.
