Coal is a fuel, and is used in the production
of coke, coal gas, and coal tar compounds
건강위험
The inhalation of coal dust
causes coal worker’s pneumoconiosis (CWP).
Simple CWP has no clinically distinguishing
symptoms, because many miners have a
slight cough and blackish sputum, which are of
no help in establishing whether or not the
disease is present.1 Simple CWP is diagnosed
according to the number of small opacities
present in the chest film. The small opacities
may be linear (irregular) or rounded (regular);
however, the latter are more commonly seen in
CWP and are most frequently located in the
upper lung zones.1 The primary lesion of
simple CWP is the coal macule, a focal collection
of coal dust particles with a little reticulin
and collagen accumulation, measuring up to 5
mm in diameter. Focal emphysema may be
associated.
