Table 1 Study participants’ profile
From: Drillers and mill operators in an open-pit gold mine are at risk for impaired lung function
Variable | |
|---|---|
N | 1550 |
Age, years | 40.5 ± 9.2 |
Male/female, N | 1357/193 |
BMI, kg/m2 | 25.8 ± 3.7 |
Working at high-altitude site, N (%) | 1477 (95.3 %) |
Smoking | |
Current smokers, N (%) | 627 (40.5 %) |
Cigarettes a day | 9.2 ± 4.8 |
Duration of smoking, years | 13.7 ± 7.8 |
Ex-smokers, N (%) | 460 (29.7 %) |
Never smokers, N (%) | 463 (29.8 %) |
Spirometry | |
VC, % pred. | 103.0 ± 12.9 |
FVC, % pred. | 109.1 ± 13.0 |
FEV1, % pred. | 100.2 ± 25.9 |
FEV1/FVC, % | 76.5 ± 20.3 |
PEF, % pred. | 107.5 ± 16.7 |
MEF50, % pred. | 77.7 ± 24.1 |
Occupations | |
Mechanics, N (%) | 242 (15.6) |
Mine truck drivers, N (%) | 221 (14.3) |
Bulldozer, Grader and Loader/shovel operators, N (%) | 128 (8.3) |
Cleaners, N (%) | 99 (6.4) |
Security staff, N (%) | 96 (6.2) |
Drillers, N (%) | 88 (5.7) |
Office staff, N (%) | 82 (5.3) |
Other drivers, N (%) | 72 (4.6) |
Engineers, N (%) | 61 (3.9) |
Food handlers (kitchen), N (%) | 58 (3.7) |
Mill operators, N (%) | 48 (3.1) |
Warehouse staff, N (%) | 45 (2.9) |
Blasters, N (%) | 41 (2.6) |
Lab technicians, N (%) | 36 (2.3) |
Welders, N (%) | 34 (2.2) |
Samplers, N (%) | 23 (1.5) |
Geologists, N (%) | 18 (1.2) |
Grinder operators, N (%) | 14 (0.9) |
Surveyors, N (%) | 11 (0.7) |
Other, N (%) | 133 (8.6) |