Black Lung
Coal miners work in dark and damp conditions every day. Worst of all, they are underground with virtually no sunlight or air ventilation. Thus many coal miners suffer from serious lung disorders. The most well-known and serious of these lung disorders is pneumoconiosis, most commonly known as “black lung”.
Causes of Black Lung
Black lung is caused by prolonged exposure to coal dust. It most commonly affects coal miners. The disease has similar side effects and long term consequences of smoking tobacco on a daily basis. The inhaled coal dust will eventually build up in the lungs and is impossible to get rid of. The buildup of coal dust will eventually lead to serious health risks including:
- Necrosis of the lungs: necrosis means that the tissue and cells of the lungs have died. It is considered a premature death of the lungs.
- Fibrosis of the lungs: fibrosis is the creation of excess tissue in an organ. The lungs will create more fibrous tissue in order to help heal the damaged areas. But sometimes, the excess tissue creates scarring and destroys the previous structure of the lungs
- Inflammation: is the result of harmful toxins or pathogens. The tissue will swell up in order to help heal itself.
In the United States, coal is still actively mined and produced. Thus, there are over ten thousand coal miners who are affected by black lung. If you have suffered from black lung due to overexposure to coal dust, you may have grounds for a workers’ compensation claim.
Contact Us
To schedule a formal consultation with a New Jersey workers’ compensation lawyer, contact the law offices of Levinson Axelrod, P.A. at 1-800-346-5529.
