Pneumoconiosis

Coal Worker's Pneumoconiosis: Causes

Coal worker’s pneumoconiosis (Black Lung disease) is caused by inhaling coal mine dust in surface or underground coal mines. The dust may accumulate in the lungs over time and cause an inflammatory reaction and scarring. The disease may develop and progress during or after exposure to the coal mine dust has ended.

Coal Worker's Pneumoconiosis: Diagnosis

Diagnosing and monitoring coal worker’s pneumoconiosis (Black Lung) is a multi-step process and may include the following:

• A clinic visit to document a detailed medical and occupational/environmental exposure history and perform a physical exam.
• Lung function testing (also called pulmonary function testing [PFT]), to determine how much air your lungs can hold, how quickly you can expel air from your lungs, and how well your lungs can exchange oxygen.
• Imaging studies such as a chest x-ray or a more detailed study of the lung with a chest computed tomography (chest CT scan) are used to visualize the lining of the lung (pleura) and the lung tissue (lung parenchyma). Physicians trained as B readers may review the chest x-ray to determine whether a dust induced lung disease is evident.
• An arterial blood gas (ABG) at rest and with exertion may be performed to determine oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood.
• Laboratory testing for tuberculosis (TB) and other abnormalities associated with pneumoconiosis.
• On rare occasions a lung biopsy has to be performed to determine the cause of an interstitial, scarring lung disease such as coal worker’s pneumoconiosis.

Coal Worker's Pneumoconiosis: Symptoms

Coal worker’s pneumoconiosis, usually detectable on chest imaging, may cause no symptoms and very little loss of lung function. The more complicated and severe form of coal worker’s pneumoconiosis known as progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) leads to loss of lung function and respiratory symptoms of shortness of breath and cough. In advanced cases of coal worker’s pneumoconiosis other organs, particularly the heart, may be affected.

Coal Worker's Pneumoconiosis: Treatment

There is no cure for coal worker’s pneumoconiosis (Black Lung disease). This means that prevention of exposure and early detection of disease are the most effective means of avoiding symptomatic Black Lung Disease. If a person is diagnosed with coal worker’s pneumoconiosis, treatment is typically supportive with timely treatment of respiratory infections, surveillance for infections such as tuberculosis, immunizations for influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia, supplemental oxygen at rest and/or with exertion if needed, smoking cessation, and regular exercise to maintain overall health and respiratory muscle strength. On some occasions lung transplant becomes necessary.