Draft Overview Of The Black Lung Disease Interim Findings

More Cases of Black Lung Disease Emerge Among Queensland Coal Workers

It was first thought that black lung disease had been eradicated in Australia, however if you’ve been following the mining news lately, coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP) or “Black Lung Disease” may not be a thing of the past with eight Queensland coal miners being diagnosed with the disease since late 2015, the first case in nearly 60 years. 

Black Lung Disease is a preventable occupational, man-made disease of the lung. The disease is caused by the inhalation of dust particles or chemical irritants usually over a prolonged period of time. These dust particles or irritants accumulated in parts of the lung causes inflammation and scarring and eventually resulting in irreversible lung damage.

Prolonged dust exposure can result scleroderma, chronic bronchitis, heart problems and lung failure. Advanced Black Lung Disease is debilitating and often fatal.