| Objective:We investigated the newly reported of occupational diseases cases in Hubei, China from2008to2013, to identify the major problems and challenges, and explore possible solutions for its prevention and control.Methods:We extracted annual reports of occupational diseases cases from2008to2013for Hubei Province from the national occupation disease and occupation health information monitoring system. Through the system, occupational diseases are notified by occupational disease diagnostic physicians through centers for disease control and prevention at city, county, provincial and national levels to the Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Health publishes statistics of occupational diseases annually.We analyzed the distribution of occupational diseases by type and size of industry, and age and duration of exposure of employees. Curve fitting (d=0.05) was used to test the linear trend for duration of dust exposure, and median age of employees. Analysis of variance was used to compare age at diagnosis and duration of exposure for difference job titles. All analyses were performed using SPSS version17.0.Results:(1) A total of4281new occupational diseases cases were reported between2008and2013in Hubei Province, including3665new pneumoconiosis cases,307chronic poisoning cases,56acute poisoning cases and253physical factors and other occupation diseases cases.(2)The number of new pneumoconiosis cases showed an overall increasing trend. There were32.72%more cases in2013(n=1010) than in2012(n=761). CWP and silicosis were the most common forms of pneumoconiosis and accounted for97.19%of the cases, indicating that coal and silica dust are currently the most dangerous occupational hazards in Hubei Province. The largest number of cases of pneumoconiosis in Huangshi (1286cases,35.09%), Yichang (892cases,24.23%) and Enshi city (336cases,9.17%). All3665cases of pneumoconiosis were distributed among23industries, with74.10%reported in the coal industry. Others were mainly from the nonferrous metals (198cases,5.40%), building materials (190cases,5.18%)and geology and mineral resources (151cases,4.12%) sectors. In Hubei Province, pneumoconiosis occurred most frequently in coal mining (35.55%), tunneling (27.23%) and coal mixture (8.27%). The age at diagnosis and duration of exposure of simple coal miners were significantly shorter those of other jobs. About42.46%of pneumoconiosis cases were from small and medium-sized enterprises. Stage Ⅱ and Ⅲ pneumoconiosis accounted for37.71%and48.79%of all the cases in small enterprises respectively. The average age and the duration of exposure of dust decreased according to the first year of dust exposure.The average age at diagnosis of individuals with pneumoconiosis in Hubei Province was56years, and the average duration of exposure was17years. Age and duration of exposure did not show a clear upward or downward time trend. Most of the individuals with Stage Ⅱ or Ⅲ pneumoconiosis were aged45-54years. The proportion of individuals with pneumoconiosis complicated with pulmonary tuberculosis was6.60%, the incidence of TB was highest in workers with silicosis (7.18%). The proportion decreased with increasing stage of pneumoconiosis.A total of15death cases were reported in6years, the proportion of men and women is14:1.60%of the death cases were aged more than65years,40%of death cases the duration of exposure of dust more than30years. The main causes of death were respiratory tract infection and cardiovascular disease.(3) Lead and compounds poisoning, chronic benzene poisoning were the most common forms of chronic poisoning cases. The male patients is more than females. The largest number of cases of chronic poisoning in Xiangyang, Wuhan and Huangshi city. All307cases of chronic poisoning were most distributed among metallurgy and machinery sectors. Duration of exposure less than5years accounted for the largest proportion of the. Lead and its compounds poisoning and benzene poisoning patients.(4) A total of34accidents,56patients of acute poisoning occurred in Hubei Province during6years, resulted in4deaths. The poisoning accidents occurred mainly in May and August. The main cause of poisoning were hydrogen sulfide poisoning and carbon monoxide poisoning.(5) From2008to2013, a total of253cases of physical factors and other occupation diseases were reported in Hubei Province, mostly distributed in male. The number of new cases showed an overall increasing trend from2011to2013and2008to2010. Noise induced deafness and occupation tumors were the most common forms of physical factors and other occupation diseases, indicating that they are currently the most dangerous occupational hazards in Hubei Province. Nearly50%of physical factors and other occupation diseases cases occur in large enterprises.Conclusions:According to the study, some suggestions are given below:(1) to strengthen the prevention and control of occupational diseases in specific industry and specific categories;(2) to develop integrated occupational poisonous and harmful substance control demonstration project;(3) to build a provincial surveillance and early warning system of occupational diseases. |
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