{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,17]],"date-time":"2026-06-17T10:55:54Z","timestamp":1781693754859,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":36,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,17]],"date-time":"2026-06-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1781654400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Occupational lung diseases remain a significant public health concern in mining populations, particularly in high-exposure environments. This study examined occupational exposure profiles and respiratory health outcomes among surface and underground miners in Mpumalanga Province. A cross-sectional analytical design was employed among 239 mine workers. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, occupational exposures, behavioural factors, and respiratory outcomes were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression models. Underground miners were significantly more likely to report high dust exposure (44.9% vs. 24.1%), poor ventilation (60.6% vs. 39.3%), and longer working hours (&gt;8 h: 68.5% vs. 50.0%) compared to surface miners. They also reported a higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms, including chronic cough (45.7% vs. 25.9%), shortness of breath (41.7% vs. 23.2%), wheezing (34.6% vs. 18.8%), and diagnosed lung disease (23.6% vs. 9.8%). Multivariable analysis showed that underground mining (AOR = 1.92; 95% CI: 1.08\u20133.41), smoking (AOR = 1.78; 95% CI: 1.02\u20133.11), and high dust exposure (AOR = 2.89; 95% CI: 1.45\u20135.76) were independent predictors of chronic cough. A significant interaction between smoking and underground mining (AOR = 2.74; 95% CI: 1.32\u20135.68) further amplified respiratory risk. Additionally, underground miners demonstrated lower levels of knowledge (48.8% vs. 66.1%) and poorer preventive practices (44.1% vs. 64.3%). These findings highlight the combined influence of occupational and behavioural factors on respiratory health and highlight the need for integrated interventions to reduce the burden of occupational lung diseases.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph23060805","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,17]],"date-time":"2026-06-17T10:19:53Z","timestamp":1781691593000},"page":"805","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Occupational Exposure Profiles and Respiratory Health Outcomes Among Surface and Underground Miners: A Comparative Epidemiological Analysis"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"23","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5712-5291","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Masilu Daniel","family":"Masekameni","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Development Studies, School of Social Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria 0003, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5802-4265","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Thokozane Patrick","family":"Mbonane","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Doornfontein Campus, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2094, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Khathutshelo Vincent","family":"Mphaga","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Doornfontein Campus, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2094, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Themba Titus","family":"Sigudu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Health and Society, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2094, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9095-354X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Phoka Caiphus","family":"Rathebe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Doornfontein Campus, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2094, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2007). 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