Pneumoconiosis ranks first in occupational diseases in Nanjing

“Doctor, I’ve been working on steel cutting at a construction site. In recent months, even when I wasn’t working, my ears have been buzzing,” said Liu Daben from Huai’an, who rushed to the Andemen labor market yesterday. At the occupational disease prevention and treatment clinic, staff asked him questions. The hospital’s official told the reporter that pneumoconiosis and occupational chemical poisoning are two of the most common occupational diseases in the city. With increasing urban noise pollution, the number of cases related to occupational ENT (ear, nose, and throat) diseases has also risen sharply.

According to reports, occupational diseases are illnesses caused by workers' exposure to dust, radioactive substances, and other harmful materials during their work activities. As China's economy and society develop rapidly, the variety and complexity of risk factors have increased. By the end of last year, the National Health and Family Planning Commission, along with other departments, revised the list of occupational diseases, which still includes 10 categories. The updated list now covers 18 additional diseases, including AIDS, but only for medical staff and police officers. The top 10 include: pneumoconiosis, occupational radiation diseases, occupational accidents, diseases caused by physical factors, biological agents, skin diseases, eye diseases, ENT diseases, occupational tumors, and others.

Yesterday, the reporter observed many computer users coming to the event to ask questions. One person asked, “I’ve been sitting in front of the computer for a long time and now suffer from severe cervical spondylosis. Is this considered an occupational disease?” Chen Ying and Pang Yan responded that cervical spondylosis is not officially listed as an occupational disease. It may be considered an occupation-related condition, but it does not qualify as a formal occupational disease under current regulations.

“Pneumoconiosis still ranks high in our city’s occupational disease statistics,” said Pang Yan, director of the Medical Service Department at the Municipal Vocational and Technical Hospital. He added that nearly 30 cases were diagnosed last year—up by about 10 compared to the previous year. Occupational chemical poisoning comes next. Most of the patients are workers in industries such as building materials, non-ferrous metals, and mechanical processing. “In our survey, we found that they are not only unaware of the potential hazards at their workplaces, but also lack sufficient knowledge about the importance of occupational protection during production,” he explained.

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