Black Lung Symptoms, Causes & More
Article Sources
- 1. Publishing, Harvard Health. 'Pneumoconiosis.' Harvard Health, www.health.harvard.edu/a/to/z/pneumoconiosis-a-to-z.
- 2. 'Black Lung Disease.' Black Lung Disease | Michigan Medicine, www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/ug1566spec.
- 3. 'Pneumoconiosis.' Johns Hopkins Medicine, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/pneumoconiosis.
- 4. 'Learn About Pneumoconiosis.' American Lung Association, www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/black-lung/learn-about-black-lung.
- 5. Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis (Anthracosis; Black Lung Disease; Coal Miner's Pneumoconiosis) By Abigail R. Lara, et al. 'Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis - Pulmonary Disorders.' Merck Manuals Professional Edition, Merck Manuals, www.merckmanuals.com/professional/pulmonary-disorders/environmental-pulmonary-diseases/coal-workers'-pneumoconiosis?redirectid=60.
- 6. 'Diagnosing and Treating Pneumoconiosis.' American Lung Association, www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/black-lung/symptoms-diagnosis.
- 7. 'Mortality from or with Pneumoconiosis' - Minnesota Department of Health, www.health.state.mn.us/communities/occhealth/data/pneummortality.html.
- 8. 'Pulmonary Function Tests.' Mount Sinai Health System, www.mountsinai.org/health-library/tests/pulmonary-function-tests.
- 9. Black Lung (Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis) By The Manual's Editorial Staff Last full review/revision Mar 2021| Content last modified Mar 2021, et al. 'Quick Facts: Black Lung.' Merck Manuals Consumer Version, Merck Manuals, www.merckmanuals.com/home/quick-facts-lung-and-airway-disorders/environmental-lung-diseases/black-lung.
- 10. 'Coal Worker's Pneumoconiosis.' Mount Sinai Health System, www.mountsinai.org/health-library/diseases-conditions/coal-workers-pneumoconiosis.
- 11. 'Pneumoconiosis Symptoms, Causes and Risk Factors.' American Lung Association, www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/black-lung/treating-and-managing.
5. Diagnostic Methods
To diagnose black lung, a health care provider checks the person's medical history and discusses their work history, including the number of years of exposure to coal dust and any precautions the person took to mitigate exposure. They also conduct a physical exam.1Publishing, Harvard Health. ‘Pneumoconiosis.’ Harvard Health, www.health.harvard.edu/a/to/z/pneumoconiosis-a-to-z.
The provider may order pulmonary function tests. One test evaluates the person's airflow under different conditions. Another measures lung volume, and a third measures diffusion capacity, evaluating the lungs' ability to transfer oxygen from the environment into the bloodstream.8‘Pulmonary Function Tests.’ Mount Sinai Health System, www.mountsinai.org/health-library/tests/pulmonary-function-tests.
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