Schmajuk G, et al. - Investigators analyzed 973 candidates of age ≥50 years to assess the relationship between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with work-related coal and silica exposure in the Appalachian region of the US. Approximately 27% reported coal mining work and 19% reported other work-related silica exposure among total population. A fraction of 517 cases was recorded with any arthritis whereas 112 cases were on the verge of RA. They obtained a correlation between coal mining and elevated odds of RA accounting for a population attributable fraction (PAF) of 33% of the men. They noted the coal-associated odds ratios (ORs), 2.3 and the associated PAF, 20% for any arthritis. Overall, they suggested 20% of arthritis and 33% of RA attributable to coal mining work.