Guide Note: Continual exposure to coal dust can result in the black lung, a lung disease that inflicts coal mine workers. When coal dust is inhaled over a long period of time, the fragments can buildup in the lungs. Black lung does not develop overnight, and stems from prolonged exposure to coal dust. It usually takes at a person at least ten years of coal mine work to develop black lung.

Fast Facts:

1. Also known as coal worker's pneumoconiosis
2. Pulmonary fibrosis develops in 1-2% of cases
3. Diagnosed through chest X-ray
4. Type of interstitial lung disease
5. Result from work-place exposure

Symptoms:

1. Shortness of breath
2. Bronchitis
3. Emphysema
4. Lung dysfunction
5. Hypertension
6. Painful breathing

Disclaimer: The content on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your doctor for information on Black Lung.

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