Federal Black Lung Benefits Rates for 2016: Benefits Increase By 1%
Recently the U.S. Department of Labor increased by 1% the modest amount of money that disabled coal miners and their families who receive federal black lung…
Environmental Health Perspectives publishes article: “A Scourge Returns: Black Lung in Appalachia”
The resurgence of black lung has made the cover of Environmental Health Perspectives, a widely-read journal published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.…
Resurgence of Black Lung in Australia, 60 Years After the Disease Was Thought Eradicated
After six decades without a reported case of black lung, Australia is experiencing a resurgence of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis. As reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation…
Charleston Gazette-Mail Article on Resurgence of Black Lung and Dust-Fraud Testimony in Blankenship Trial
Over the weekend, the Charleston Gazette-Mail had an excellent story by Ken Ward, Jr. about black lung and the criminal trial of Don Blankenship: “Black Lung…
MSHA Chief Says Black Lung is “Widespread and Underreported”
In a recent statement, the head of the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), Joe Main, said that black lung is “widespread and underreported.“ Main…
Charleston Gazette-Mail Article on Ted Latusek, Miner Featured in Pulitzer-Prize Winning Story Who Is Still Fighting for Black Lung Benefits After 21 Years
A week and a half ago, the Charleston Gazette-Mail ran a well-done article about Ted Latusek, a West Virginia coal miner whose struggle for black lung…
MSHA Data Shows 701 Miners with Black Lung from 2010 to 2015, 1 in 8 Had Less Than 15 Years in the Mines
Yesterday Ellen Smith of Mine Safety and Health News posted a must-read story, “The Terrible Numbers of Black Lung Disease,” that collects recent MSHA “Part 50”…
Audio of Don Blankenship: “Black Lung Is Not an Issue in This Industry that Is Worth the Effort”
Among the many exhibits that are being made public in the trail of former Massey Coal CEO Don Blankenship, is audio of a call in which…
History Article on Early 20th Century Black Lung: “‘Buying brains and experts’: British Coal Owners, Regulatory Capture and Miners’ Health, 1918 – 1946”
The peer-reviewed academic journal Labor History has published an article about the history of black lung in the UK from the period of 1918 to 1946. …
Johns Hopkins Will Not Reopen Black Lung Program
The Center for Public Integrity reports today that Johns Hopkins terminated its black lung program following criticism brought on by the Center for Public Integrity/ABC News…