NIOSH Report Reveals Highest Black Lung Disease Rates in Central Appalachia Since 1978
A recent report from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) indicates a significant resurgence of black lung disease among coal miners in central Appalachia, encompassing Kentucky, West Virginia, and Virginia. For miners with at least 25 years underground, the disease rate has reached 1 in 3, a level not seen since 1978. Miners with over 15 years of experience also show higher rates than reported since the 1980s. This data was highlighted in a joint investigation titled 'Coal’s Human Cost,' involving FRONTLINE, NPR, Public Health Watch, and the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom. The investigation builds on previous reporting and focuses on the increasing number of cases, the role of toxic silica dust, and the perceived failures of industry and government to address the issue. Reporter Howard Berkes, who has covered black lung for over a decade, noted that even younger miners are now being diagnosed, leading to severe health and financial challenges for them and their families.
