Hello! In this post I will be writing about the history of Pneumoconiosis that I have found through the American Public Health Association and its history of public health campaigns, current status of the disease, and related occupational policies.
Pneumoconiosis is referred to a group of fibrotic lung diseases caused by the retention of dust in the lungs. The term "black lung" has been coined because coal workers were most exposed to this condition. The first case of black lung was reported in 1831. Black lung is an irreversible interstitial lung disease that results in chronic inhalation of coal dust. As mentioned workers exposed to coal dust are most at risk to a range of chronic lung disease conditions. Blackley, Halldin, and Laney (2018) found that black lung is on the rise since 2000. While there was a decrease in the US from the 1970s to 1990s, 6.5% to 2.1%, prevalence of black lung has increased from 1990's to the 2000s. This increase has been from 2.1% to 3.2%.
Base on my online research, there's a Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) organization from the United States Department of Labor. This organization has been protecting miner's safety and health since 1978. It appears that the website has not been updated since 2011 but up until then there was a launch for the "End Black Lung Act Now!" campaign. There were two phase for this campaign that have been listed. The first phase provided information regarding coal mine dust control continuing to fight against black lung disease. Regulatory information was proposed and listed. The second phase had rule making material that was launched in 2010.
Overall, black lung is back on the rise. The campaign "End Black Lung Act Now!" implements a comprehensive strategy that includes rule making, enhanced outreach, collaborative outreach and education and training. The goal is to reduce the risk to a miner's health by controlling respirable coal mine dust exposure.
-Iliana
Reference
Blackley David J. , Halldin , Laney ,
Pneumoconiosis is referred to a group of fibrotic lung diseases caused by the retention of dust in the lungs. The term "black lung" has been coined because coal workers were most exposed to this condition. The first case of black lung was reported in 1831. Black lung is an irreversible interstitial lung disease that results in chronic inhalation of coal dust. As mentioned workers exposed to coal dust are most at risk to a range of chronic lung disease conditions. Blackley, Halldin, and Laney (2018) found that black lung is on the rise since 2000. While there was a decrease in the US from the 1970s to 1990s, 6.5% to 2.1%, prevalence of black lung has increased from 1990's to the 2000s. This increase has been from 2.1% to 3.2%.
Base on my online research, there's a Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) organization from the United States Department of Labor. This organization has been protecting miner's safety and health since 1978. It appears that the website has not been updated since 2011 but up until then there was a launch for the "End Black Lung Act Now!" campaign. There were two phase for this campaign that have been listed. The first phase provided information regarding coal mine dust control continuing to fight against black lung disease. Regulatory information was proposed and listed. The second phase had rule making material that was launched in 2010.
Overall, black lung is back on the rise. The campaign "End Black Lung Act Now!" implements a comprehensive strategy that includes rule making, enhanced outreach, collaborative outreach and education and training. The goal is to reduce the risk to a miner's health by controlling respirable coal mine dust exposure.
-Iliana
Reference
Hi Iliana,
ReplyDeleteBlack lung sounds HORRIBLE!! What a terrible fate to have when you're just trying to do your job...I'm glad the MSHA has been protecting workers since 1978. I would hope that in today's day and age, this disease could be potentially eradicated altogether! I wonder: what are some of the regulations that the MSHA has put into effect specifically? What can miners do individually to protect themselves when they are at work? What are the current statistics of this disease for this year? So much to think about! Thanks for posting!
Hi Iliana,
ReplyDeleteI also decided to look further into Pneumoconiosis. It is simply astonishing to learn that workers would end up with Black lungs due to their work in the mining industries. I was actually surprised to learn from your post that Black lungs is back on the rise. You would think that a disease like this would be a thing of a past. Given how dangerous this disease is and all the knowledge that we have about the different health risks that people who deal with toxic minerals have, more legislation and regulations need to be developed to protect these miners and their health.