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. 1964 Jul;21(3):218–225. doi: 10.1136/oem.21.3.218

Prevalence of Pneumoconiosis in Cornish Kaolin Workers

Geoffrey Sheers 1
PMCID: PMC1038358  PMID: 14180481

Abstract

In 1961, 553 Cornish china clay workers had been exposed to kaolin dust for periods exceeding five years, and evidence of kaolinosis was seen in 48 (9%). No kaolinosis was found in men who had been exposed for less than five years. Workers in the more heavily exposed jobs of milling, bagging, and loading showed a prevalence rising from 6% in those with between five and 15 years' exposure to 23% in those exposed for more than 15 years. Men who had been intermittently and less heavily exposed in the older, out-dated drying plants needed 25 years' exposure before reaching the highest prevalence of 17%.

Massive fibrosis has been observed in two cases in the industry and also in two men who have left the industry. Six men needed anti-tuberculous chemotherapy, but none had a positive sputum. Preventive measures now include pre-employment chest examination, but the problems of dust control have not yet been satisfactorily solved.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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