Mining Exposures and Health

OHCOW has established an interdisciplinary team as part of its ongoing occupational disease cluster work with McIntyre Powder-exposed mine workers. Exposed miners report multiple diagnoses and/or symptoms related to exposure to McIntyre Powder (aluminum oxide dust) and the mining environment more generally, including cancers, respiratory, neurological, cardiovascular, and other health conditions. OHCOW Medical consultants and Occupational Hygienists completed literature reviews on issues common to groups of miners. Links to the various reports are provided below, and will be updated as new information becomes available.   

Trading One Risk for Another: Consequences of the Unauthenticated Treatment and Prevention of Silicosis in Ontario Miners in the McIntyre Powder Aluminum Inhalation Program.

Kidney Cancer Exposure in Ontario Mines

COPD Occurrence and Associations with Occupational Exposures and Smoking, Feb 13, 2020

A Quantitative Retrospective Exposure Assessment for Former Chrysotile Asbestos Miners and Millers, Oxford University Press, August 2020

Aluminum Dust Exposure and Evidence for Impairment of Cognitive Function

Physical and chemical characterization of McIntyre Powder: An aluminum dust inhaled by miners to combat silicosis

McIntyre Powder and Cardiovascular Disease REVIEW, April 29 2019 AZ

McIntyre Powder Particle Size and Lung Overload REVIEW, March 26 2019 AZ

Sarcoidosis OHCOW summary pap, Mar 26 2019 AG

Bladder Cancer and Exposure in Ontario Mines

Background and Development of the WSIB Gold Mining and Lung Cancer Policy, Dec 30 2019 FINAL