Black lung disease — also known as coal workers’ pneumoconiosis or coal miners’ lung — is inflammation (swelling and irritation) and fibrosis (thickening or scarring) in lung tissue brought about by inhaling dust particles in and around coal mines.
Many workplaces have occupational hazards. But unlike falling off a ladder, you won’t feel it right away if you have black lung disease. It might be years after breathing in coal dust particles before you notice symptoms. But those tiny dust particles — and the irritation it causes — can scar your lungs and lead to breathing problems.
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.
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.
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.
What tests will be done to diagnose this condition?
After a chest X-ray or computed tomography scan shows possible black lung disease, your provider may do some tests to see how well your lungs work (pulmonary function tests). These tests are important to find out how black lung disease affects your lung. Your healthcare team can look back on these measurements later as they assess whether treatment is working and if your condition is getting worse.
Your healthcare team may also get a special blood test called an “arterial blood gas” to see whether your oxygen levels are low. If you’re getting evaluated for black lung benefits, they may do this twice: Once sitting still and resting and once after exercising as hard as you can.
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