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M10.8 Blog about an occupationally-related disease

M10.8 Blog about an occupationally-related disease


Pneumoconiosis is a type of lung disease that can be contracted through inhalation of dust. Symptoms include inflammation, coughing, and fibrosis. This is typically found amongst coal miners. Dating back to the 1950's, countries began to implement laws and regulations regarding dust exposure for coal miners. This has lead to a steady decrease in Pneumoconiosis diagnoses to this day. The outliers to this decrease include countries like China, who still yield a high percentage of coal (it's their major energy source). Currently, x-rays are the gold standard for monitoring and diagnosing Pneumoconiosis. By law, miners are required a chest x-ray every 5 years by the mines they work at. In April of 2014, the Deparment o Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) issued the reduction of miner's exposure to coal dust. This has been seen as a monumental step in reducing the prevalence of Pneumoconiosis in coal miners. 

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