Preface

All involved samples are from the precious collection of pathology department of North China University of Science and Technology（formerly known as North China Coal Medical College）. Back to 1970s，Chinese famous pathologists Tie-Sheng Li and Hong-Zhen Li，leading their research team（including Fang Yang，Xian-Hua Wang，Shu-Wen Tong，Su-Hua Zhang，Xiao-Ping Zhang，Jing-Yue Liu，Su-Qin Zheng，Qi-Jia Li）spend nearly 20 years in studying death causes and pathogenesis of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis，based on 47 cases who had been in coal mine industries for a long time（The industries include Baotou mining bureau of Inner Mongolia autonomous region，Wuda mining bureau of Inner Mongolia autonomous region，Bohaiwan mining bureau of Inner Mongolia autonomous region，Huoxian mining bureau of Shanxi province，Yangquan mining bureau of Shanxi province，Kaiping mining bureau of Hebei province，Jinzhushan mining bureau of Hunan province，Babaoshan mining bureau of Hebei province.）. Age of 47 cases ranges from 30 years old to 78 years old，with an average age of 50.6 years old. All cases are definitely diagnosed with coal workers’ pneumoconiosis，including stage Ⅰ（17 cases），stage Ⅱ（7 cases），stage Ⅲ（5 cases），no pneumoconiosis stage（formerly known as coal dust reaction stage，18 cases）. Although the documents have published some of precious research outcomes ［1-11］，and the book（Histological Atlas of Coal Mine Pneumoconiosis）has facilitated partial histological photographs（in black and white）presentation ［12］，it keeps a pity that much of the morphological information has undiscovered.

China is the largest developing country，with a population accounting for 800 millions of industrial workers，30% of whom（more than 200 million workers）are exposed to occupational harmful factors ［13］.Nowadays，China has migrated into the transition period for the industrial aspect. Some of traditional occupational diseases，such as pneumoconiosis，are still in the situation of hard controlling and therapy，and the new occupational health problems arise due to the application of new technologies and new materials，being a big problem about public health safety and economic security ［13-16］. China is rich in coal resource which plays an important supportive role in energies consumption and national economy ［17］. The third national economic census in China，illustrates 6.113 million of employees working in coal mine industry by the end of 2013，most of which are coal miners. From 2010，it is eight consecutive years that the new cases are higher than 20，000 each year，more than 90% of which is coal workers’ pneumoconiosis and silicosis. Therefore，there are more than 830，000 cases of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis in total ［18，19］. According to a statistics communique recently released by the National Health Commission，19，468 new cases arise only in 2018 ［20］. Moreover，pneumoconiosis is appended with the new characteristics，such as a high incidence of pneumoconiosis，younger age，shortened latency and increased complications，growing a big problem about occupational health and safety ［22-29］. However，the pathogenesis of pneumoconiosis（including coal worker’s pneumoconiosis）is complex，varying in pathological changes ［1，3，5］. In clinic，pneumoconiosis is continuously progressive，therapy keeping no effective and prognosis being poor even in the patients who have no exposure to silica for a long time. Therefore，details of pathological changes have a great contribution on discovering pathogenesis and development law of coal worker’s pneumoconiosis.

North China University of Science and Technology has been studying pneumoconiosis for several decades，receiving substantial achievements. Based on 47 cases of autopsy specimens，this book carefully collects close to 300 photographs from several thousands of morphological images，showing the typical gross appearances and histological changes，denoting with instructions in English Chinese and medical history. It is not only a renew of Histological Atlas of Coal Mine Pneumoconiosis，but also a great improvement in presentation ways，such as photographs in color，application of special staining（Masson，Immunohistochemistry，Sirius red）［30-36］ . In the part of attachment，this book employs seven clinical cases to further elucidate the pathological changes and complications of coal worker’s pneumoconiosis ［37］.

The presentation of these precious historical outcomes facilitates might manifest its great practical value in both scientific research and medical education. This book is suitable for not only undergraduate and graduate students，but also the scientists who study in the field of occupational diseases. It provides the benefits in occupational safety and management. The version in both English and Chinese is convenient for international students learning and international communication.

The book is the joint efforts of all of colleagues. Professor Ying Sun has a contribution on preservation of these precious historical outcomes and English annotation. Professor He-Liang Liu provides many excellent suggestions. Professor Xu-Dong Song performs the careful observation and analysis in coal worker’s pneumoconiosis with tuberculosis and lung cancer. Hong Xu，associate research fellow，makes a great contribution on improvement of special staining. Dr. Zhong-Qiu Wei strives in repairing these precious specimens，taking and picking up classic photographs. Professor Yang fang is in charge of managing all workload，epically in the overall plan，and photographs collection.

There are still some defects in this book. We would appreciate your comments and suggestions.

Authors

September,2020