The Brian Lehrer Show How Black Lung Reemerged
Jun 24, 2025
Kate Morgan, a Pennsylvania-based freelance journalist, sheds light on the alarming resurgence of black lung disease among younger coal miners due to policy shifts favoring the industry. She discusses the surprising severity of symptoms appearing in miners aged 30 to 40 and examines the historical context of labor struggles in coal mining. Morgan highlights the critical decline of union presence in Eastern Kentucky and the detrimental impact of recent policy changes on miners' health and safety, raising questions about balancing economic interests with public health.
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What Causes Black Lung
- Black lung, also called coal workers pneumoconiosis, results from inhaling fine coal dust that lodges in the lungs.
- This dust causes immune cells to form lumps, hardening lung tissue, leading to disability and black discoloration.
Early Black Lung Among Miners
- Today, miners develop severe black lung much younger after 15-20 years of work, compared to prior generations after decades.
- Decline of unions leads to less enforcement of dust standards and longer shifts, raising dust exposure.
Union Battles in Harlan County
- Harlan County, Kentucky experienced violent battles in the 1930s and 1970s over unionizing mines for miner rights and safety.
- These struggles historically secured protections but the union presence has since drastically declined.