Pneumoconiosis (Black Lung)

Pneumoconiosis is caused by breathing in dust particles such as asbestos, coal dust, or silica. If these particles enter airways or air sacs in our lungs, they can cause inflammation as the body tries to fight them off, which very often will cause fibrosis and scarring of the long. These dust particles are usually found in the workplace therefore it's often referred to as an occupational lung disease.Pneumoconiosis is also know as black lung, because the lungs turns black, and very commonly seen in coal workers. 

The 1969 Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act was intended to prevent coal workers pneumoconiosis through early detection of disease and voluntary mine transfer to low dust jobs. In 1995, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health(NIOSH) of the CDC, published a recommended standard for occupational exposure to respirable coal mine dust, where they establish recommended exposure limits for coal mine dust. In 2011, the NIOSH updated the information with current information on exposure and their associated health effects. In 2012, the Government Accountability Office published a report and proposed exposure limits based on analytical methods which would reduce coal miner's risk of respiratory disease. The NIOSH oversea the Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program which is a national program that include periodic lung function testing, respiratory health assessment questionnaires and extended health surveillance to coal miners currently working in coal mines. An newly added mobile examination unit is able to provide screening at coal fields which would increase compliance. 

The OSHA Act of 1970 is a law that gives instructions and criteria to employers to make sure that their workplace is safe and free from hazardous chemicals, which includes exposure to harmful dust particles.

Steps to prevent pneumoconiosis in the workplace according to the OSHA include:

• keeping levels of dust down

• ventilating a workspace properly

• providing regular medical examinations

• making sure workers wear a face mask and protective clothing

        • washing hands and face before eating or drinking

The current status of black lung disease is due to screenings and surveillance the number of young coal miners is more controlled, but there is increasing numbers among coals miners that have worked 20 to 30 years that are suffering severely from this disease because of lack of regulations.