SIMPLE SCREENING TOOLS FOR ASSESSING SILICOSIS

-Dr. Rajan R Patil

There is a widespread movement in the voluntary sector to highlight the adverse impact
caused by indiscriminate mining on environment and health hazards. Working in mines is
fret with multitude of health hazards from minor skin lesions to fatal accidents. There
increasing emphasis for teaching lay volunteers some simple methods and tools so that
they could detect and quantify environmental problems in their community to attract
attention of local authorities and health experts alike. .

Silicosis is a common Occupational health hazards faced by the miners. Prolonged

inhalation of fine dust over the years lead to loss of elasticity of lungs leading to fibrosis
of lungs, which decreases efficiency of lungs. Health being technical subject, it calls for
objective assessment of health hazards. Objective assessment is also necessitated in the
court of law to qualify as and evidence that can stand the test of scrutiny in the context of
workmen compensation issues.

The challenge is to develop/adapt simple tests that can be performed by lay persons at the
same time yielding valid results. Conducting complicated scientific tests with expensive
equipments by trained professionals may not always be feasible due to various reasons.
Suspicion on the part of employers and fear among the mining workers with respect to
job security are the major hindrance in carrying out large empirical studies.

In the light of above, two methods have been adapted and modified to suite field level
action by volunteers to objectively assess lungs

1. Candle blowing test: A candle is placed at the distance of 30cm on the table and
the mining worker is requested to blow off the candle light.
Generally a person with normal lungs is able to put off the
candle light with ease. A person with lung problem will
have difficulty in put off the candle light.

2. Counting test: A mining worker is requested to count the numbers loudly in

single breath without pause & without inhaling air mid way.
Note the count at which the participant gives up counting. Person
with lung problems will give up very early in the counting.

The above two tests has been found to a very easy to use screening tools that can be
easily applied by community volunteers. These tests could be applied to a group mining
workers and the results could be compared with non mining group who serve as control
group. The two groups could be compared on the basis of proportion of individual failing
to blow the candle off in two groups. To compare and contrast Counting test results,
Mean count at which individuals give up counting could be taken for comparison.
These two tests could be administered by lay persons with some training. These tests
could also be used to promote behavior change among mining workers to encourage them
to use of protective equipments like mask, gloves, etc.

Dr. Rajan R Patil

Epidemiologist
School of Public Health
SRM University
Chennai
Email <rajanpatil@yahoo.com>