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Howard Berkes

Black lung rates in Appalachia are high as the 1970s, with thousands of miners sick

Black lung rates in Appalachia are high as the 1970s, with thousands of miners sick

Howard Berkes, Justin Hicks | Aug 5, 2026, 8:01 AM UTC
Rates are now the highest they've been in nearly 50 years among veteran coal miners. Mining experts blame toxic silica dust, now more common in mines.