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:
- Also known as coal worker's pneumoconiosis
- Pulmonary fibrosis develops in 1-2% of cases
- Diagnosed through chest X-ray
- Type of interstitial lung disease
- Result from work-place exposure
Symptoms:
- Shortness of breath
- Bronchitis
- Emphysema
- Lung dysfunction
- Hypertension
- 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.
Black Lung Research
New England Journal of Medicine: Black Lung: Anatomy of a public health disaster (June 3, 1999)
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