NIOSH to offer free black lung screenings for miners

Washington – NIOSH will offer free, confidential health screenings to coal miners in an effort to detect black lung, a group of deadly diseases caused by breathing coal mine dust.

All current and former coal miners – underground or surface – can participate in the screenings, which will be provided through NIOSH’s Enhanced Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program.

From June 21 to Aug. 1, screenings will take place at NIOSH’s mobile testing unit at mine and community sites in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.

The 25-minute screening will include a work history questionnaire, a chest radiograph and a lung-function test (also known as spirometry). Blood pressure screenings also will be offered.

Black lung has increased among U.S. coal miners since the 1990s, according to NIOSH.