Black Lung Defined

• The disease results from the inhalation of silica dust that build up in the lungs and leads to fibrosis and inflammation, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal.
  
  

Mining Origins

• Modern coal mining can trace its origins to the Industrial Revolution in the 1700s when steam engines required coal as an energy source, according to facweb.stvincent.edu.
  
  

Rise of the Miner

• Coal became the primary energy source for the locomotive in the 19th century, resulting in the creation of thousands of jobs, according to facweb.stvincent.edu.
  
  

No Safety

• Before the passage of labor laws, boys were recruited as coal miners without adequate protection and worked long hours, ultimately inhaling silica dust over long periods, according to facweb.stvincent.edu.
  
  

First Recognition

• Physicians recognized black lung disease in 1831 when a British doctor observed that miners were suffering from asthma. Doctors incorrectly concluded it was a result of soot from oil lamps, according to the book Black Lung.
  
  

Safety Measures

• Black lung disease can't be completely eradicated since the only solution is to not work in a coal mine, according to penhealth.com.