New Study: Black Lung Disease Rate in Appalachia Is the Worst in 50 Years as Coal Miner Protections Stall

New NIOSH research found 32.5% of veteran underground coal miners with 25+ years in central Appalachia tested positive for black lung disease, the highest rate since 1978 and up sharply from 20.6% in 2018.

Researchers screened 280 working miners and found 91 positive cases, extrapolating a regional rate consistent with clinic data showing thousands of new diagnoses over the past decade; more than 1,700 miners died of the disease between 2020 and 2023.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration declined to comment before seeing the published report, while the National Mining Association was given a summary of the findings.

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