The air in and around coal mines is full of tiny mineral particles created during the mining process. Inhaling too much of this air can cause what’s called coal workers’ pneumoconiosis – better known as black lung disease. For a while, greater awareness and improved mining conditions led the number of cases to drop, but that trend has reversed in recent years. We talked with Dr. Edward Petsonk of West Virginia University about the resurgence of black lung disease and the impact that this illness has on miners and local mining communities.
The air in and around coal mines is full of tiny mineral particles created during the mining process. Inhaling too much of this air can cause what’s called coal workers’ pneumoconiosis – better known as black lung disease. For a while, greater awareness and improved mining conditions led the number of cases to drop, but that trend has reversed in recent years. We talked with Dr. Edward Petsonk of West Virginia University about the resurgence of black lung disease and the impact that this illness has on miners and local mining communities.