Black Lung Disease Rates Among Appalachian Coal Miners Surge to Near 50-Year High

Nashville, TN, August 6, 2026 —

Black lung disease, a debilitating respiratory condition, is on the rise among veteran underground coal miners in central Appalachia, reaching its highest prevalence in nearly five decades, according to new research. The affected states include Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The resurgence of this disease is significantly linked to increased exposure to silica dust. This dust is a byproduct generated when miners extract thinner coal seams and associated rock formations. The changing mining practices, requiring access to more difficult geological strata, appear to be a key driver of this concerning trend.

The findings paint a grim picture of the occupational health crisis facing these miners. Between the years 2020 and 2023, more than 1,700 coal miners have succumbed to black lung disease. This stark statistic underscores the severity and deadly nature of the condition, particularly among experienced miners in the region.

Black lung disease, also known as coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, is caused by the inhalation of coal dust, which leads to inflammation and scarring of the lungs. In recent years, the presence of silica, a mineral found in rock, has been increasingly recognized as a potent accelerant of the disease, leading to more severe and rapidly progressing forms.

The research highlights the need for continued attention to worker safety and health regulations within the coal mining industry, particularly in regions where mining conditions have evolved to include the extraction of thinner seams and more rock.

Story summarized from the original created by Tony Gonzalez on wpln.org, see more information here.

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