About Black Lung
Understanding Black Lung Disease
Coal remains the largest domestically produced source of energy in the United States, and the coal industry directly employs more than 120,000 people. Yet behind this vital industry lies one of the most serious occupational health threats to our nation’s miners - black lung disease.
Also known as Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis, black lung is caused by breathing in coal and rock dust over time. The body cannot clear this dust from the lungs, so it builds up and causes inflammation, scarring, and long-term breathing problems. As the disease progresses, the lungs turn dark from trapped dust, hence the name black lung.
Black lung is progressive and incurable, meaning that once it begins, it tends to worsen over time. A miner may feel healthy while still working or just after retirement, only to develop shortness of breath, coughing, or other symptoms years later. These breathing problems can become more severe as the scarring increases.
A Growing Problem for Miners
For the past twenty years, black lung has been steadily increasing across the country. Data from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) shows that cases among miners with more than 20 years of experience have more than doubled, and the disease is now appearing in miners as young as 30.
One reason for the rise is increased exposure to silica dust, created when miners cut through rock to reach thinner coal seams. Silica dust is even more toxic than coal dust. Its sharp particles penetrate deeply into the lungs, causing faster, more severe, and often irreversible damage.
Consequences for Miners
Earlier Onset: Younger miners are developing serious forms of black lung, including progressive massive fibrosis, at increasing rates.
Higher Prevalence: Some areas of Central Appalachia have seen a tenfold increase in severe disease.
Severe Health Outcomes: The disease leads to lung scarring, chronic shortness of breath, and, in many cases, early death.
All miners are at risk, because black lung can take years to develop and may not cause breathing difficulties or major symptoms early on.
Common symptoms include:
Persistent cough
Shortness of breath
Pain or tightness in the chest
Coughing up black mucus
Fatigue or difficulty exercising
Wheezing or crackling sounds in the lungs
Signs of progressive massive fibrosis (advanced lung scarring)
Who Qualifies for Black Lung Benefits
To qualify for federal black lung benefits, a miner must prove:
They have black lung disease.
The disease was caused by coal mine employment.
They are totally disabled.
The disability is due to black lung.
These findings are based on medical testing - such as breathing tests, chest x-rays, blood work, and a doctor’s review of results.
How Lungs at Work Can Help
At Lungs at Work, we specialize in early detection, diagnosis, and advocacy for miners and families. We offer baseline and annual screenings to help you track your lung health over time. These screenings are quick, confidential, and belong to you, we only share your results with your permission.
If your results show signs of black lung or if your breathing worsens over time, our medical and legal teams are ready to help you file a Federal Black Lung Benefits claim and guide you through every step of the process.
Black lung disease can change a miner’s life, but knowledge, early action, and the right support can protect your health and your future. Lungs at Work is here to make sure you never have to face that journey alone.