by Caity Coyne | Aug 15, 2026 | Black Lung, Coal Miners, News, United Mine Workers of America, West Virginia
The United Mine Workers of America made an “urgent demand” of the federal government on Thursday for the “immediate, uncompromised” enforcement of previously approved policies and rules that would protect coal miners from incurable black lung disease. The call from the UMWA comes after new research this month shows that black lung rates have increased to an almost 50-year high after years of…
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by Nayanika Guha | Dec 24, 2025 | Black Lung, Coal, Coal Miners, Coal Mining, Donald Trump, Fossil Fuels, Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), News, Trump Administration, Workplace Safety
James Bounds has been working in the mines since 1969. Now 78, and living in Fayette County, West Virginia, he was first diagnosed with black lung in 1984. He was told to quit working at the mines, but he didn’t. He continued working until 2003, when he was permanently disabled with black lung. “I had so many obligations at that time that I couldn’t quit the mines,” he said.
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