Thread: Advanced Black Lung Cases Surge In Appalachia

Across Appalachia, coal miners are suffering from the most serious form of the deadly mining disease black lung in numbers more than 10 times what federal regulators report, an NPR investigation has found .The government, through the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, reported 99 cases of "complicated" black lung, or progressive massive fibrosis, throughout the country the last five years.

But NPR obtained data from 11 black lung clinics in Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio, which reported a total of 962 cases so far this decade. The true number is probably even higher, because some clinics had incomplete records and others declined to provide data.

Apparently part of the increase is because most coal miners don't get tested till they retire or are laid off because they are afraid their employers will fire them if they find out:

Stanley waited until he was out of work, after 30 years mining coal, before he got his first chest X-ray. Miners avoid the NIOSH testing, he says, because they worry it could cost them their jobs.

"If you're working and you go and have that stuff done and the company finds out about it, they'll find a way to get rid of you," Stanley says. "As long as you're working and producing you're an asset. But now when you get something wrong with you, you become a liability. And they'll find a way to get rid of you."

This is what coal does:



Advanced Black Lung Cases Surge In Appalachia : NPR

Another reason for the increase:

Cohen, Laney and other black lung experts believe thinner coal seams in central Appalachia are likely to blame for spikes in complicated black lung. The thickest seams are mostly gone. The thin seams that remain have coal embedded in rock, and that rock contains quartz. Cutting quartz and coal together results in mine dust that includes silica, which is especially toxic in lung tissue. Stanley worked in so much dust he labeled his mining machine the dust dragon.

"They kept getting less coal and more rock. So you're cutting 19 inches of coal, you're cutting 50-60 inches of rock," Stanley recalls. "And the more rock you cut the more dust you're going to eat."

Everything about coal from cradle to grave is toxic. We need to leave this form of energy in the past.

Originally Posted by Blueneck

Apparently part of the increase is because most coal miners don't get tested till they retire or are laid off because they are afraid their employers will fire them if they find out:



This is what coal does:



Advanced Black Lung Cases Surge In Appalachia : NPR

Another reason for the increase:



Everything about coal from cradle to grave is toxic. We need to leave this form of energy in the past.

Do you really think the RIGHT cares about coal miners? Did they ever? Doesn't WV still have one of the lowest income states in the country? Hasn't it always? Poor coal miners in WV and poor black people in MS. Arent' they ALWAYS ranked at the bottom? Who gives a shit right?

They will be used and abused, as always.

Originally Posted by OldGaffer

They will be used and abused, as always.

That article was distressingly sad to me. Generations of people suffering for these jobs and we can't find anything else for Appalachians to do to make money?

But haven't you heard, they only mine clean coal now so it's all OK. Or at least that's what TNV tries to tell me.

God, you guys act like these people can't do anything else but work in a coal mine.

If they don't want to they don't have to, they can go get a job somewhere else.

Originally Posted by Spookycolt

God, you guys act like these people can't do anything else but work in a coal mine.

If they don't want to they don't have to, they can go get a job somewhere else.

Why? Trump is revitalizing the coal industry, they will have jobs until they die an early death, who cares? Certainly not you, Trump, or the mine owners.

Originally Posted by Blueneck

That article was distressingly sad to me. Generations of people suffering for these jobs and we can't find anything else for Appalachians to do to make money?

They probably voted for Trump in hopes that he can bring back manufacturing jobs that can compete with the pay of the coal jobs. I'm not sure what the Appalachian regions offer currently that can compete. The free trade deals have made competing against slave labor impossible, I'm sure they could do some service jobs that don't pay much, or work at a WalMart, or go back to school, but their best bet hinges with Trump.

Originally Posted by OldGaffer

Why? Trump is revitalizing the coal industry, they will have jobs until they die an early death, who cares? Certainly not you, Trump, or the mine owners.

If that's where they want to work why should I care?

It's their lives and a free nation.

Originally Posted by metheron

They probably voted for Trump in hopes that he can bring back manufacturing jobs that can compete with the pay of the coal jobs. I'm not sure what the Appalachian regions offer currently that can compete. The free trade deals have made competing against slave labor impossible, I'm sure they could do some service jobs that don't pay much, or work at a WalMart, or go back to school, but their best bet hinges with Trump.

The left doesn't care about them.

They would close these plants tomorrow because "they" know what's best for the people and they would end up throwing these people out of work where they would lose their houses and not be able to feed their families but that's ok with the liberals because "they" know what's best for the people.