ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of pneumoconiosis in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China from 2006 to 2009.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Statistical analysis was performed on the types, populations, ages, and geographic distribution of the pneumoconiosis cases in Ningxia from 2006 to 2010, as reported in China Information System for Diseases Control and Prevention.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 625 new cases of pneumoconiosis (4 death cases) occurred throughout Ningxia from 2006 to 2010. Of the new cases, 538 (86.1%) suffered stage I pneumoconiosis, 70 (11.2%) stage II pneumoconiosis, and 17 (2.72%) stage III pneumoconiosis. Silicosis and coal-workers' pneumoconiosis were the dominant types of pneumoconiosis, accounting for 97.44% (609/625) of all cases. Of the 625 cases, 557 (89.12%) were distributed in Shizuishan City, and 563 (90.08%) were engaged in coal and metallurgical industries. Most cases were in the 35-year-old group and 45-year-old group, and the lengths of dust-exposed service mostly ranged from 10 to 29 years.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In Ningxia, pneumoconiosis control should focus in the state-owned, middle-sized coal enterprises in Shizuishan City. Health surveillance should be enhanced in the workers with more than 10 years of dust-exposed service or aged more than 35 years, so as to reduce the incidence of occupational diseases.</p>