One of the motivators behind the research was because an increased risk of death from heart attack has been identified in coal miners in the United States. The prevalence of coronary heart disease and the effect on the mortality rate of Australian coal miners had not been previously investigated.

The research objective was to find out if there is an increased risk of coronary heart disease in the coal mining industry. The project asked how many deaths among miners were associated with heart disease. It also examined the level of risk associated with the work and lifestyle risk factors associated with heart disease.

Data such as blood pressure and body mass index, collected in routine medicals at mines, were compared with general community data. Work and lifestyle information was also compared to general community information.

The project found there does not appear to be an increased risk of death from heart disease for the Australian coal industry at the present time. Two risk indicators, blood pressure and weight, were higher in coal miners than in the general population.

Miners entering the NSW coal mining industry had markedly higher levels of blood pressure than other groups and the general population. SIMTARS project manager, Carmel Bofinger said there was some uncertainty regarding the veracity of these results and that further investigation was warranted.

Coal miners are at comparable risk with the general population in terms of lifestyle factors of physical activity, alcohol use, tobacco use and diet and nutrition. But some work related factors associated with coal mining have been shown to increase the risk of heart disease.

The report suggests that levels of exposure to noise and dust may contribute to increased heart disease risk as well as shift work, which may also increase stress levels.

Exposure to heat and cardiotoxic compounds were not found to be significant in increasing the risk of heart disease.

Bofinger said this first study into heart disease among coal miners had generated more questions than it has answered. Monitoring of the risk factors needs to continue to enable continued benchmarking with the general population, she concluded.

The research was funded by the JCB Health and Safety Trust.

Further information about the project can be obtained from Carmel Bofinger, SIMTARS, carmel.bofinger@nrm.qld.gov.au