Black Lung

With a handful of months to go before 2022 becomes 2023, a long-gestating and crucial piece of legislation from the previous year is getting another chance at passage in the U.S. Senate. The Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2021 would help miners stricken with...

With an alarming number of new black lung diagnoses and an even more troubling trend of younger miners contracting the disease, revisiting the telltale signs and causes of the deadly disease is essential. Black lung remains a problem in search of a solution. Countless...

The push for renewable energy continues. Most impacted is the coal industry, which continues to shrink at a rapid rate. In addition, insurance-related liabilities have skyrocketed due to a significant increase in black lung diagnoses. Estimates of the costs range from...

The road to ridding the coal mining industry of black lung disease has hit yet another roadblock. University of Illinois-Chicago researchers published their findings in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society. They found lung tissue in the current workforce...

Black lung is a deadly disease that results from coal miners plying their trade in dangerous settings. Over time, safety initiatives have reduced the chance of contracting the disease. However, a combination of inaction and lack of funding for those suffering from the...

In April, a new study confirmed what many already knew. A definitive connection exists between silica dust and the deadly affliction that has stricken countless coal miners for decades: black lung disease. While calls to action have not stopped, the latest findings...

For decades, coal miners have been exposed to dangerous and potentially deadly substance known as crystalline silica. The mineral can be found in sand, stone, concrete, and mortar. The respirable version contains 100 times smaller particles that can become airborne...

While ever-evolving technology has tried to link black lung disease to silica dust, efforts in the past to make a connection have failed. Concurrently, lawmakers who have debated legislation regarding the health crisis have fallen woefully short in regulating the dust...

John “J.L.” white was a former coal miner from Williamsburg. His daughter recounted how her father was a skilled dozer operator recruited to the coal mines. His diligence and dedication saw him quickly advance up the ranks. Like many others before and since he was...

Spending the entirety of a career working in coal mines presents serious health risks. Far too many find their ability to continue in their job suddenly at an end following a black lung disease diagnosis. Awareness of the deadly affliction has forced coal companies to...