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Black lung disease (BLD), also known as coal workers' pneumoconiosis, [1] or simply black lung, is an occupational type of pneumoconiosis caused by long-term inhalation and deposition of coal dust in the lungs and the consequent lung tissue's reaction to its presence. [2]
- Overview
- Symptoms and Causes
- Diagnosis and Tests
- Management and Treatment
- Prevention
- Outlook / Prognosis
- Living With
- Additional Common Questions
Black lung disease is inflammation and scarring common among people who work in coal mines. Some people may not have symptoms. Others may have difficulty breathing, cough up black mucus and experience chest tightness. Medications can help ease symptoms, but there’s no cure.
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OverviewSymptoms and CausesDiagnosis and TestsManagement and TreatmentPreventionOutlook / PrognosisLiving WithAdditional Common Questions
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What are the symptoms of black lung disease?
It might be years after exposure before you start noticing symptoms of black lung disease. At first, you might not have any symptoms. But with coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, your symptoms may get worse over time. Symptoms include: Tightness in your chest. Difficulty exercising. Feeling short of breath. You may notice this even in routine tasks that didn’t make you tired before. A cough that’s sometimes productive (you may cough up black mucus). On physical exam, your healthcare provider might hear wheezing or crackling when you breathe. Although you won’t be able to see that your lungs are black, imaging will reveal specific markers that tell your healthcare provider that it’s black lung and not another form of lung (pulmonary) disease.
What causes black spots on your lung?
You can’t always see the particles you’re inhaling. But the tiny specs of dust (particles) in coal mines have carbon. And depending on where your mine is and what types of rock you’re drilling through, the dust may also contain something called silica. When you take a breath in a coal mine, these small particles of dust can get all the way to your lungs. Your immune system will recognize them as invaders (foreign bodies) and try to get rid of them. This immune reaction can lead to inflammation and scarring and, eventually, the symptoms of black lung disease.
What are the complications of black lung disease?
Complications of black lung disease include: Tuberculosis (TB). Heart failure. Lung cancer.
How is coal workers’ pneumoconiosis diagnosed?
If you’re having problems breathing, your healthcare provider will ask about your medical history and your work (occupational) history. They’ll conduct a physical exam. If needed, they’ll perform medical tests.
How is black lung disease treated?
Treatments for black lung disease aim to make you feel better, but they won’t cure the condition. Aside from a lung transplant (which may cure black lung disease), your healthcare provider will manage your black lung symptoms with: Restricting exposure to coal. Efforts to avoid further irritating your lungs (quitting smoking and vaping, staying up to date on your vaccines). Medications (bronchodilators) that keep your airways open and soothe inflammation. Pulmonary rehabilitation. Oxygen. Care at Cleveland Clinic Respiratory Therapy Make an Appointment
Can black lung disease be prevented?
Yes, black lung disease is preventable. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has standards to help prevent black lung disease. If you’re working in or around coal mines, the organization you work for should put into place methods to decrease the amount of coal mine dust in the area and improve the airflow where you’re working. If you can, wearing a mask that’s been “fit-tested” — it’s been checked to make sure it protects you from dust — can help. After work, you should keep that mask on while you remove your work clothes. You can remove your mask to take a shower, washing any of the coal particles from your hair and skin. You may also want to wear a face mask when you do your work laundry.
What can I expect if I have this condition?
It can take a while to wrap your head around a diagnosis like black lung disease, especially if you don’t have any symptoms. You’ll have the condition for the rest of your life. If you have complicated black lung disease, you’ll likely have more symptoms and require more frequent visits to the doctor. You may need supplemental oxygen. Overall, research shows that black lung disease decreases life expectancy by about 12.6 years.
How do I take care of myself?
If you have black lung disease, you’ll want to limit any exposure to things that can further irritate your lungs. These include: Quit smoking. It’s critical for your current and future health. But it’s not easy. If you have black lung disease and smoke, talk to your healthcare provider about how they might support you as you quit. You should also try to avoid environments where you might be exposed to secondhand smoke. Stay away from the coal mine. Breathing in more coal and silica particles will worsen your condition. Watch the weather. Specifically, the air quality index (AQI) that’s usually reported with the weather forecast. If the air quality index is “unhealthy for sensitive groups” or worse, you should try to stay inside — or wear a face mask if you go out — until it improves. Prevent infections. Your condition may be aggravated by a respiratory infection. Stay up to date on vaccines like influenza, pneumococcal pneumonia and COVID-19. And consider wearing a face mask in public during cold and flu season. Exercise, but do so carefully. Talk with your healthcare provider about what exercises you can do, how hard you should push yourself and how to know when you’re overdoing it. Plan for flare-ups. Nobody wants to think about feeling bad when they’re feeling fine. But developing a plan for how you’ll manage flare-ups means that everything is in place so you’re not scrambling to find medical care when you’re not feeling your best.
When should I see my healthcare provider?
Your healthcare provider will want to see you for regular check-ups. They’re also the best person to ask about when and where you should seek care.
Is black lung tuberculosis?
No, black lung disease isn’t the same as tuberculosis (TB). TB is an infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It’s a contagious disease, but it doesn’t spread very easily in most people. Having black lung disease puts you at higher risk of developing TB because your immune system is weakened. Some of the symptoms of TB and black lung disease are the same: cough, chest pain and coughing up sputum. But black lung disease isn’t an infection. If you have black lung disease without TB, you won’t likely have a fever or night sweats.
Is black lung a disability?
It depends. In the United States, disability is a legal issue. The key question here is: Can you perform the tasks you used to do when you worked as a coal miner? Your healthcare provider will need to report on how much black lung disease you have, what your symptoms are and how well they can be managed with medications. To qualify for black lung benefits, miners need to undergo a special test called the 413b examination. This is an examination and testing done by doctors specially trained in testing coal miners. A note from Cleveland Clinic Sometimes, it might feel like there are a lot of people telling you how to do your job. But no one should get sick because they work in unsafe conditions. That’s why rules and regulations exist — to help keep you working, safely. Even with all the workplace safety efforts, about 16% (or 1 in 6) of coal workers develop black lung disease. Although you should feel better with medication and lifestyle changes, black lung disease can be a hard diagnosis to come to terms with, especially if you’ve seen your friends and colleagues go through it. If you’re newly diagnosed, or your symptoms are getting worse and you’re finding it difficult to cope, reach out to your healthcare provider. They can assess your health and recommend support groups and interventions that can help. Medically Reviewed Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 07/17/2023. Learn more about our editorial process.
30 juin 2022 · Black lung is a lung disease that's most common in coal workers. It's caused by long-term inhalation of coal mine dust. Black lung can cause complications and reduce life expectancy.
3 déc. 2022 · Black lung disease is a job-related illness caused by inhaling coal dust over a long period of time. The condition mainly affects coal miners and is also known as coal workers’ pneumoconiosis...
28 août 2020 · Coal worker’s pneumoconiosis, or black lung, causes scarring of the lungs and results from inhaling coal dust. Learn about the symptoms, prevention, and more.
4 mai 2024 · Black lung disease gets its name from the black appearance of the lungs of miners who have inhaled coal dust particles. The medical term for black lung disease is coal workers' pneumoconiosis, which is actually a spectrum of diseases.
Coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP), commonly known as "black lung disease," occurs when coal dust is inhaled. Over time, continued exposure to the coal dust causes scarring in the lungs, impairing your ability to breathe. Considered an occupational lung disease, it is most common among coal miners.
