Why are black lung screenings important for miners?

Black lung screening can:

1. Identify lung problems in coal miners early and help to prevent severe disease.
2. Help determine the risks for lung disease in coal miners.
3. Enable health professionals to monitor rates of lung disease in coal miners.

During extraction, transport, and processing of coal in underground and surface mining operations, coal miners can be exposed to significant amounts of respirable coal mine dust in the air. Inhaling particles of coal mine dust into the lung causes several types of lung disease. These can be severe enough to cause breathing impairment, disability, and death.