Coalworker's pneumoconiosis
Coal workers' pneumoconiosis, more commonly referred to as
black lung disease or just
black lung, 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; this leads to inflammation, fibrosis, and in worse cases, necrosis. Coal workers' pneumoconiosis, severe state, develops after the initial, milder form of the disease known as
anthracosis. This is often asymptomatic and is found to at least some extent in all urban dwellers due to air pollution. Prolonged exposure to large amounts of coal dust can result in more serious forms of the disease,
simple coal workers' pneumoconiosis and
complicated coal workers' pneumoconiosis. More commonly, workers exposed to coal dust develop industrial bronchitis, clinically defined as chronic bronchitis associated with workplace dust exposure. The incidence of industrial bronchitis varies with age, job, exposure, and smoking.