Asbestosis, silicosis, and coal workers’ pneumoconiosis


Incidence of asbestosis, coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, and silicosis
per 100,000 men, BC, 1994-2007

In brief

  • Asbestosis, silicosis, and coal workers’ pneumoconiosis are fibrotic lung diseases typically associated with exposure to high levels of respirable dust exposure.
  • We used outpatient, hospital, and compensation data to examine geographic and time trends for incidence of these pneumoconioses in BC.
  • We found that between 1992 and 2006, asbestosis incidence among men increased from 5.5 to 6.2/100,000, and silicosis and coal workers’ pneumoconiosis decreased from 2.3 to 0.3/100,000 and 2 to 0.4/100,000, respectively. Similar trends were observed among women, based on small numbers.
  • Incidence of all three diseases varied widely (up to twenty-fold) across BC regions, and showed association with known sites of historic exposure.

Contact: Chris McLeod

a place of mind, The University of British Columbia

School of Population and Public Health
2206 East Mall,
Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
Tel: 604-822-2772
Partnership for Work, Health and Safety
2206 East Mall,
Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
Tel: 604-822-8544

Emergency Procedures | Accessibility | Contact UBC  | © Copyright The University of British Columbia