Black lung disease; Pneumoconiosis; Anthrosilicosis

There is no specific treatment for this disorder. You should avoid further exposure to the dust.

For additional resources, see lung disease support group.

The outcome for the simple form is usually good. It rarely causes disability or death. The complicated form may cause shortness of breath that gets progressively worse.

Complications may include:

• Chronic bronchitis
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Cor pulmonale (failure of the right side of the heart)
• Respiratory failure

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you develop symptoms of coal worker's pneumoconiosis.

Images

Lungs

Coal workers pneumoconiosis, complicated #2

Coal worker's lungs - chest X-ray

Coal workers pneumoconiosis, complicated

Respiratory system

Coal workers pneumoconiosis - stage II

Coal workers pneumoconiosis - stage II #2

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Coal worker's pneumoconiosis Symptoms

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Coal worker's pneumoconiosis Prevention

Review Date: 06/10/2011
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Denis Hadjiliadis, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)