Jun 28 Energy & Environment National Academy Report Urges Stronger Coal Dust Monitoring Amid Black Lung Surge A new report from the National Academy of Sciences says the coal mining industry needs a “fundamental shift” in the way it controls exposure to coal and rock dust in order to prevent lung disease among miners. Despite improvements such as an Obama-era rule to strengthen monitoring and control of dust in mines, the experts […] By Jeff Young Jun 28 Energy & Environment National Academy Report Urges Stronger Coal Dust Monitoring Amid Black Lung Surge Jeff Young
Jun 4 Energy & Environment Black Lung Benefits Fund in Deepening Debt as Epidemic Surges A new study from the Government Accountability Office finds that the federal fund supporting coal miners with black lung disease could be in financial trouble without Congressional action. As NPR has reported, the GAO found that the fund’s debt could rise dramatically at the same time that black lung disease is surging. Most federal benefits […] By Benny Becker Jun 4 Energy & Environment Black Lung Benefits Fund in Deepening Debt as Epidemic Surges Benny Becker
May 16 Energy & Environment Lung Transplants Rise Amid Region’s Black Lung Epidemic The Appalachian coalfields are in the midst of an epidemic of severe black lung disease. The debilitating and even deadly disease has recently begun to affect miners as young as 30. Dust from coal mines has scarred these miners’ lungs, so little of the air they breathe gets absorbed. In central Appalachia, researchers say, one […] By Benny Becker May 16 Energy & Environment Lung Transplants Rise Amid Region’s Black Lung Epidemic Benny Becker
Apr 6 Energy & Environment Radiologists Call For Repeal of Kentucky Black Lung Law The American College of Radiologists, a professional organization representing radiologists, is asking Kentucky to repeal a new law that changes how coal miners receive benefits for black lung disease. The law’s changes to Kentucky’s workers’ compensation system removed radiologists from the claims process, even though radiologists are specialists in reading in X-rays and are generally […] By Benny Becker Apr 6 Energy & Environment Radiologists Call For Repeal of Kentucky Black Lung Law Benny Becker
Mar 28 Energy & Environment Amid Black Lung Surge, Kentucky Changes Benefits Process For Miners William McCool is a 64-year-old former coal miner from Letcher County, Kentucky, with an advanced form of black lung disease. Health experts say the condition is entirely preventable with dust control measures in mines. But today, more miners in Appalachia are being diagnosed with severe black lung than ever before. “I’ve worked all my life, […] By Benny Becker Mar 28 Energy & Environment Amid Black Lung Surge, Kentucky Changes Benefits Process For Miners Benny Becker
Feb 9 Energy & Environment Living With Black Lung: Coal Miners Caught In A Surging Epidemic The central Appalachian coalfields are in the middle of an unprecedented epidemic of severe black lung disease. In a recent issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association federal researchers released the results of a study conducted at just three black lung clinics. The study confirmed 416 cases of the most severe form of […] By Benny Becker Feb 9 Energy & Environment Living With Black Lung: Coal Miners Caught In A Surging Epidemic Benny Becker
Jun 30 Energy & Environment Committee Hears More About Deadly Black Lung Resurgence While President Trump is wrapping up a week of energy talks in Washington highlighting the benefits of coal, health and industry experts met in Morgantown, West Virginia, to discuss the resurgence of black lung disease among miners. Health researchers have called the recent rates of dust-induced lung disease in coal miners historically unparalleled. Congress has […] By Glynis Board Jun 30 Energy & Environment Committee Hears More About Deadly Black Lung Resurgence Glynis Board
Apr 4 Energy & Environment Black Lung Update: Federal Researchers Seek Allies In Appalachia Federal health researchers are visiting health clinics and medical schools in the Appalachian coalfields to recruit allies to fight a resurgence of black lung disease. The worst form of the disease may affect as many as 5 percent of experienced working miners in the region, and the researchers fear that rate could be even higher […] By Benny Becker Apr 4 Energy & Environment Black Lung Update: Federal Researchers Seek Allies In Appalachia Benny Becker
Apr 4 Impact NPR, ReSource Honored For Black Lung Investigation Investigative Reporters and Editors has honored NPR’s Howard Berkes and the Ohio Valley ReSource for reporting on the resurgence of black lung cases in Appalachia. ReSource reporter Benny Becker worked with Berkes to gather data and interviews for an NPR investigation that documented far more cases of complicated black lung – the worst stage of the […] By Jeff Young Apr 4 Impact NPR, ReSource Honored For Black Lung Investigation Jeff Young
Mar 30 Health Lawmakers Ask Trump For More Black Lung Funding A bipartisan group of legislators has asked President Donald Trump to make more money available for black lung health clinics as they face an increase in cases of the disease among coal miners. More than 20 clinics would benefit from the $3.3 million increase lawmakers are requesting. The clinics provide miners with health screenings, medical […] By Becca Schimmel Mar 30 Health Lawmakers Ask Trump For More Black Lung Funding Becca Schimmel