Occupational lung disease overview
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Black lung disease, also known as coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP), is caused by long exposure to coal dust. It is a common affliction of coal miners and others who work with coal, similar to both silicosis from inhaling silica dust, and to the long term effects of tobacco smoking. Inhaled coal dust progressively builds up in the lungs and is unable to be removed by the body, leading to inflammation, fibrosis, and in the worst case necrosis.
Full blown coal workers' pneumoconiosis develops after the initial, milder form of the disease known as anthracosis (anthrac - coal, carbon). This is often asymptomatic and is found to at least some extent in all urban dwellers[1] due to air pollution. Prolonged exposure to large amounts of carbon dust results in progression to the more serious forms of the disease, simple coal workers' pneumoconiosis and complicated coal workers' pneumoconiosis.