Black Lung
Still Kills
Black lung disease continues to impact coal miners and their families across Appalachia, with rising diagnosis rates driven by prolonged exposure to coal and silica dust. This website provides essential information on the history of black lung and miner advocacy, diagnosis, and resources to support miners and communities affected by this preventable, but devastating, disease.
Black Lung by the Numbers
In Central Appalachia, as many as 1 in 5 tenured coal miners has black lung disease - the highest recorded rate in 25 years.
Nationwide, 1 in 10 coal miners with 25+ years of underground experience has black lung disease, something which is entirely preventable.
The most severe form of the disease - progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) - has surged to levels not seen since the 1970s, after being nearly eliminated just a few decades ago.
In some Appalachian communities, rates of severe black lung have increased by as much as 900% since the 1990s.
Black lung disease and deaths are concentrated in Appalachia, where counties can experience dramatically higher case and mortality rates than the national average.
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Video credit for header: WOWK 13 News, WCHS 8 News, Associated Press, PBS NewsHour, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, CBS Sunday Morning, Mimi Pickering/Appalshop, & WYMT.