Why US coal miners are still developing black lung disease

[n2doc]

Posted on: June 3, 2011 6:00 PM, by Celeste Monforton

In Hawk's Nest Redux, Ellen Smith reports that an apalling number of the 29 deceased Upper Big Branch coal miners had black lung disease. The autopsy evidence was reported at the end of one chapter of the investigation report prepared by an independent panel of investigators commissioned by the Governor of West Virginia.* Smith compared the shocking prevalence of lung disease in these men in the year 2010, to the 1930's Hawk's Nest tunnel/Gauley Bridge disaster in which a thousand workers developed acute and progressive lung disease within just a few weeks of work breathing air thick with silica dust. She writes,

Hawk's Nest is considered: "...one of the worst man-made industrial accidents in U.S. history. But as we know, it wasn't an accident. Workers were placed in harm's way for profit. Their health be damned."

Among the deceased Upper Big Branch (UBB) miners, 24 of the 29 had enough lung tissue to be examined by a pathologist, and 71% of these men had evidence of black lung (a.k.a. Coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP)). Black lung is a chronic, fibrotic and irreversible respiratory disease caused by inhaling respirable coal mine dust (comprised of coal and rock.) The respirable size particles deposit deep in the lungs and robs miners of their breath and life.

The 17 UBB miners with fibrotic disease (which is not associated in any way with cigarette smoking) ranged in age from 25 to 61 years. Nine of the men---the older ones---had more than 30 years of mining experience (i.e., exposure to respirable dust), but there were also five victims with fibrosis who had less than 10 years of mining experience.

How is it possible in the year 2010, that U.S. coal miners are still developing black lung disease???? It's an occupational illness that is TOTALLY preventable with diligent use of dust control measures including proper ventilation, water sprays and dust collectors.

more
http://scienceblogs.com/thepumphandle/2011/06/why_us_coal_miners_are_still_d.php

Greed

[Howler]

1. K&R

K&R

[FBaggins]

2. Simple

Because they're still mining coal.

[obxhead]

3. Beat me to it.

[MountainLaurel]

4. My father had black lung

Though he died from a heart attack, I have no doubt that his breathing problems were a contributing factor. He was only in the mines for 15 years.