Faces of Black Lung

In the last decade, over 10,000 miners have died of coal workers' pneumoconiosis, or what is commonly called black lung disease. Black lung disease, which is caused by inhaling coal mine dust, results in scarring of the lungs, emphysema, shortness of breath, disability, and premature death. While the prevalence of black lung disease had decreased by about 90% from 1969 to 1995 following the enactment of the Coal Mine Health and Safety Act, the downward trend of this disease in coal miners has stopped. Since 1995, the prevalence of black lung cases has more than doubled. Many current underground miners (some as young as in their 30s) are developing severe and advanced cases of black lung. Identification of advanced cases among miners under age 50 is of particular concern, as they were exposed to coal-mine dust in the years after implementation of the disease prevention measures mandated by the 1969 federal legislation. An increased risk of pneumoconiosis has also been associated with work in certain mining jobs, in smaller mines, in several geographic areas, and among contract miners.

To continue to raise awareness of the resurgence of this deadly but entirely preventable disease, NIOSH developed this educational DVD titled “Faces of Black Lung”. On this DVD, two miners with severe cases of black lung disease share their stories in hopes of helping to protect other miners from this devastating disease. The moving personal accounts of two lives forever changed by black lung disease provide an invaluable training tool.