Pneumoconioses
The pneumoconioses make up a class of respiratory diseases attributed solely to occupational exposures. They include the major fibrotic lung diseases such as asbestosis, coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, and silicosis as well as rarer interstitial diseases such as siderosis and berylliosis. For this report, byssinosis is also included in this category, though it differs substantially in its pathology and clinical manifestations. During 1968–1999, pneumoconiosis was an underlying or contributing cause of 121,982 deaths in the United States. The number of pneumoconiosis deaths declined from more than 5,400 in 1972 to 2,745 deaths in 1999 (Figure 2–172). Coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP) accounted for the largest number of pneumoconiosis deaths during this 30-year period. However, asbestosis deaths outnumbered CWP deaths during 1998 and 1999, displacing the latter as the most frequent type of pneumoconiosis death. Men accounted for 98% of all pneumoconiosis deaths between 1990 and 1999 but for only 67% of byssinosis deaths during this period (Figure 2–173). White residents accounted for 94% of pneumoconiosis decedents but for only 85% of silicosis decedents; 14% of silicosis decedents were black (Figure 2–174).
Magnitude and Trend
How did the pattern of pneumoconiosis mortality change during 1968–1999?
 | Figure 2–172 Number of deaths of U.S. residents aged 15 or older with pneumoconiosis recorded as an underlying or contributing cause on the death certificate, 1968–1999. During 1968–1999, deaths from asbestosis increased over time, whereas deaths from CWP decreased. Deaths from all pneumoconioses are shown at the top of each stacked bar. The bars slightly overstate the numbers because a small fraction of deaths was associated with more than one type of pneumoconiosis. (Note: Byssinosis data were not available before 1979. Also note that the sum of deaths for various types of pneumoconiosis (N=123,091) exceeds the total number of pneumoconiosis deaths (N=121,982) because some decedents had more than one type of pneumoconiosis recorded on their death certificates.) (Source: NIOSH [2002f].) |
Sex
How did deaths from pneumoconiosis differ by sex of worker?
 | Figure 2–173 Distribution of pneumoconiosis deaths in U.S. residents aged 15 or older by sex, 1990–1999. Men accounted for more than 98% of the 31,452 decedents with any type of pneumoconiosis during 1990–1999. However, an unusually large proportion of byssinosis decedents (33%) were female. (Note: The sum of deaths for various types of pneumoconiosis exceeds the total number of pneumoconiosis deaths because some decedents had more than one type of pneumoconiosis.) (Source: NIOSH [2002f].) |
Race/Ethnicity
How did deaths from pneumoconiosis differ by race?
 | Figure 2–174 Distribution of pneumoconiosis deaths in U.S. residents aged 15 or older by race, 1990–1999. During 1990–1999, decedents with pneumoconiosis were predominantly white. Less than 4% of CWP deaths occurred among nonwhite residents. By contrast, 15% of silicosis decedents were nonwhite. (Note: The sum of deaths for various types of pneumoconiosis exceeds the total number of pneumoconiosis deaths because some decedents had more than one type of pneumoconiosis.) (Source: NIOSH [2002f].) |
