Screening Coal Miners With Digital Chest X-Rays

Since the introduction of the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act in 1969, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has been dedicated to monitoring lung health of coal miners through routine chest x-rays. Recently, conventional screen-film radiographic imaging of coal miners has begun to be replaced by digital imaging equipment.

Inhalation of coal dust has long been associated with a number of lung diseases, including Black Lung Disease (also known as pneumoconiosis). NIOSH screening programs are intended to catch such respiratory illnesses as early as possible so effective treatment and prevention may occur.

Digital transmission, acquisition, display and interpretation of chest x-rays affords a number of advantages over conventional methods. Some of these advantages include a quicker turnaround time, improved consistency in image quality, ease of dispersal to multiple readers, a simplified storage process and improved safety (due to the elimination of chemicals related to developing of film).

Presently, trained x-ray readers are required to compare coal miner x-rays to a standardized classification of charts that distinguish the various types and severity of diseases related to dust inhalation. The charts are created and provided by the International Labour Office (ILO). Under the new process, it has been found that comparing the digital images to the standardized charts has been effective in diagnosing both disease and severity.

Though the ILO has not yet officially endorsed the preferred use of digital x-rays, the new technology is quickly being adopted worldwide. Because of this, the ILO classification may soon be adapted to better accommodate the digital format.

It is estimated that within the next decade, digital radiography systems will completely replace conventional film-based x-rays in the United States.

Source: Centers for Disease Control

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