black lung disease

3 Stories

In Coal Country, a 'Slow-Rolling Disaster'
In Coal Country,
a 'Slow-Rolling
Disaster'
NEW STUDY

In Coal Country, a 'Slow-Rolling Disaster'

New studies show increase in numbers of miners with both early, advanced 'black lung disease'

(Newser) - In what one epidemiologist calls a "slow-rolling disaster," a new set of studies presented at an American Thoracic Society conference this week offered glum news for coal miners. Per NPR , more Appalachian miners are plagued by both early- and late-stage pneumoconiosis , or "black lung disease," than...

Kentucky Curbs Black Lung Claims Amid 'Epidemic'

State says only certain doctors can diagnose the disease

(Newser) - Kentucky miners with possible black lung disease, bad news—you may have less chance of getting state compensation, NPR reports. That's because Kentucky lawmakers just passed House Bill 2 , which keeps federally approved radiologists from diagnosing the disease and leaves it mostly to doctors often employed by coal companies....

Black Lung Rates Rise 900%: Report

Appalachian coal miners contracting disease with prevalence not seen since '70s

(Newser) - Just 15 years ago, scientists were confident that the advanced, incurable version of black lung disease had been all but wiped out. Now, coal miners in Appalachia are contracting the illness—also known as progressive massive fibrosis—at rates not seen since the 1970s, the Courier-Journal reports. A National Institute...

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