Black Lung Disease Rates Rise Among Appalachian Miners

Black lung disease and dust-induced lung diseases, such as emphysema and lung cancer, are on the rise among Appalachian miners.

Leading experts on black lung, led by Dr. Edward Lee Petsong of West Virginia University, found that black lung disease is on the rise because of miners' increased exposure to dust. Dust exposure is also increasing rates of lung cancer and emphysema for miners, the study finds.