Black lung disease hits first open-cut coal miner : smh

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Black lung disease hits first open-cut coal miner

Black lung disease hits first open-cut coal miner

The mining union fears a new wave of black lung cases after the first diagnosis in a coal miner who worked exclusively above ground.Queensland man Paul Head, 55, spent three decades working as an open cut coal miner and was recently diagnosed with the potentially deadly disease, joining 15 underground workers who've been told they have the condition since 2015.Workers protest over the treatment of black lung victims.Photo: Bradley KanarisThe CFMEU says Mr Head's case busts the myth that the dust-related disease is isolated to underground sites, and wants mining companies to immediately address dust levels at all coal mines.


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Newcastle scientists working to crack the code of deadly lung disease idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Newcastle scientists working to crack the code of deadly lung disease idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Newcastle scientists working to crack the code of deadly lung disease idiopathic pulmonary fibrosisUpdatedScientists in Newcastle are helping lead world research into the lung disease idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).IPF is an interstitial lung disease, which is believed to be derived from excessive scarring in the lungs which causes them to stiffen, making it difficult for patients to breathe."It is a really nasty disease, with average time to death of two to four years from time of diagnosis," respiratory physician at Newcastle's interstitial lung disease clinic, Geoff Tyler said."The current theory is there's some normal or minor injury to the lining of the very small airways in the lungs that elicits a healing response that's exuberant and excessive, making the lungs become progressively scarred over time.


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Open-cut miner develops black lung disease

Open-cut miner develops black lung disease

Australian Associated PressThe mining union fears a new wave of black lung cases after the first diagnosis in a coal miner who worked exclusively above ground.Queensland man Paul Head, 55, spent three decades working as an open-cut coal miner and was recently diagnosed with the potentially deadly disease.He joins 15 underground workers who've learned since May last year that they have the dust-related condition, which was thought to have been eradicated in Australia.The CFMEU says Mr Head's diagnosis busts the myth that black lung is isolated to underground sites, and shows the urgent need for tighter dust controls at all coal mines across the country.