Coal miners in Alabama, Illinois, Indiana and Pennsylvania soon will have the opportunity to receive free, confidential screenings for black lung from a NIOSH mobile testing unit.
NIOSH is offering the screenings beginning in March to provide early detection of pneumo
Coal miners in Alabama, Illinois, Indiana and Pennsylvania soon will have the opportunity to receive free, confidential screenings for black lung from a NIOSH mobile testing unit.
NIOSH is offering the screenings beginning in March to provide early detection of pneumoconiosis (CWP), also known as black lung, a serious but preventable occupational lung disease caused by breathing respirable coal mine dust. Workers may access NIOSH’s mobile testing unit at conveniently placed community and mine locations.
“NIOSH is committed to public health outreach and surveillance for coal worker health,” said NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D. “Early detection of black lung in coal miners, through a screening program that is free and confidential, is critical to protecting these workers from advancing to stages of the disease that are life-threatening.”
Screening will include a work history questionnaire, a chest x-ray and spirometry testing. Blood pressure screening also will be offered. Typically, the process takes about 25 minutes,