The Cytotoxic and Haematological Effect of Coal Dust to Underground Miners

This study is aimed to assess the hazardous effect of coal dust and to examine whether there still may be an increased risk of respiratory symptoms among underground miners such as working miners and retired miners in Zonguldak, Turkey. Current miners had to have worked for at least 5 years. Retired miners had worked 10-20 years. Both groups are historically associated with exposure to higher levels of coal dust. Some haematological markers of blood samples taken from coal miners were measured in this study. The variations on haematological markers such as hemoglobin, prolactin, lactat dehydrogenase of these miners were observed. There were higher mean values of hemoglobin levels in both current miners and retired miners. Ca+2 levels as releated with increase of lactat dehydrogenase increase almost 5 times. The differences in prolactin levels were releated with levels of haemoglobin, ferritin and anemia. There may be high risk of respiratory symptoms even in retired coal miners. Measurements of this parameters make an attractive approach for monitoring the effect of coal dust in coal workers. Coal dust together with aging factor effect accelerates to catch respiratory symptoms in the retired coal miners and working miners.