They’ll look at your medical history and ask you details about your exposure to coal dust. (Most of the people diagnosed with the disease are over age 50.)īut when symptoms begin to appear, they’re likely to include:ĭoctors will use several pieces of information to diagnose black lung disease. Some people don’t have symptoms until they retire. It can take years or decades for the disease to develop. Estimates say around 16% of coal miners in the United States eventually may have lung issues from coal dust. Just because you work in the coal industry doesn’t mean you’ll get black lung disease. People with PMF have a lot of scarring on their lungs. Complicated CWP is called progressive massive fibrosis (PMF). Simple CWP means the lung has spots or scar tissue from the dust particles. There are two types of black lung disease: simple and complicated. The extent of the disease depends on how much dust has been inhaled and for how long. Over time, the inflammation can cause scarring, which is also known as fibrosis. After they land, healthy lung tissue may try to get rid of them.Īs your immune system tries to fight and remove the particles, you can get inflammation. Because it mainly affects coal miners, it’s also known as coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP).Īs you breathe in coal dust, particles settle into your airways and lungs. You get it when you inhale coal dust over a long period of time.

Causesīlack lung disease is considered a job-related illness.

But the millions of people who work (or used to work) in coal mines around the world may be at risk. It isn’t genetic and it isn’t contagious. When it comes to black lung disease, here’s the good news: Most people don’t have to worry about it.

Breathe My Name by R.A. Nelson