Thank modern mining practices for rise of black lung disease

In the heart of coal country in Appalachia, a silent epidemic continues to haunt generations of miners and their families: Black lung disease.

Despite advancements in safety and technology, the prevalence of this debilitating yet preventable illness is on the rise once again, leaving a trail of suffering in its wake due to modern mining practices and regulatory failure.

The condition, called silicosis, is caused by prolonged exposure to toxic silica dust created by cutting into rock, leading to scarring of the lungs, severe breathing difficulties and in advanced stages, death, according to the National Institutes of Health.

A Silent Epidemic

By the end of the last century, severe black lung had nearly been eliminated. But with changes in technology and conditions in coal mines in central Appalachia, cases of severe black lung disease are at their highest levels in decades.

Silica comes from coal miners cutting into sandstone as they mine coal, generating dust. The dust particles are sharp and can lodge in the lungs permanently. More sandstone is being cut in recent years as coal deposits in Appalachia are exhausted and more difficult to extract.

The federal government reported just 99 cases of advanced black lung disease nationwide from 2011-2016. But an investigation by NPR and the PBS program Frontline discovered that more than 2,000 coal miners were suffering from the disease in the same time frame in just five Appalachian states. Decades of dust collection data also showed that miners had been exposed to excessive amounts of silica thousands of times.

Silicosis is an epidemic and is “clearly one of the worst industrial medicine disasters that’s ever been described,” Scott Laney, an epidemiologist at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, told NPR.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration estimates that 2.3 million workers are exposed to silica dust annually.

Symptoms of Silicosis

Symptoms of silicosis usually appear after many years of exposure, according to the American Lung Association. In early stages, symptoms include:

• Coughing that produces saliva and mucus and progressive shortness of breath.
• As the scarring in the lungs continues to worsen, the first real signs of concern may be an abnormal chest X-ray and a slowly developing cough.
• Once the lung scarring has become more severe, bronchitis-like symptoms start appearing such as persistent cough, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.
• People also suffer from weakness, fatigue, fever, night sweats, leg swelling and bluish discoloration of the lips.

The longer silicosis goes without treatment, the more likely it is to develop a complication. Because the disease affects the immune system, silicosis patients are vulnerable to developing tuberculosis, lung cancer, COPD and kidney disease.

Treatment of Silicosis

There is no cure for silicosis and damage to the lungs cannot be reversed, according to the American Lung Society. Treatment is focused on slowing down the progression of the disease and relieving symptoms.

Avoiding further exposure to silica and irritants such as cigarette smoke is important. Treatment plans may include using a bronchodilator to relax air tubes and decrease inflammation, supplemental oxygen and pulmonary rehabilitation.

Unfortunately nearly all of the cases progress to respiratory failure and, in many cases, death. Nearly all of those deaths are premature, with the most recent estimates from 2018 suggesting a loss of roughly eight to 13 years of life for those who die with black lung, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study.

Taking on the Mining Industry

After decades of inaction by mining companies and regulators as brought to light by NPR and PBS Frontline, it now appears the federal government may be poised to act.

A federal regulation that would lower the permissible exposure limit of respirable crystalline silica to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air is in the final stage of rulemaking. That is half the current limit. It also would increase silica sampling and enforcement at metal and nonmetal mines.The “rule is simple – to better protect miners from exposure to silica so they do not have to suffer from entirely preventable debilitating and deadly occupational illnesses,” Mine Safety and Health Administration head Chris Williamson said in a statement. “Silica overexposures have a real-life impact on a miner’s health.”

How We Help Silicosis Victims

Seek justice with the help of our experienced attorneys. Our Dallas, Texas, law firm represents workers exposed to dangerous silica dust on the job, aggressively fighting to hold these companies responsible for failing to keep workers safe. If you or a loved one has suffered chronic lung diseases like silicosis, we can help.