Coal Miners Face Health Crisis Amid Regulatory Rollbacks

Fri Nov 07 2025 09:23:08 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As black lung disease surges among younger miners in West Virginia, a crucial silica dust regulation is under threat, raising concerns for the health of an already vulnerable workforce.

Lisa Emery, director of a black lung clinic, expresses deep concern for coal miners in West Virginia, especially as an alarming rise in black lung cases has been observed among younger workers. Regulatory protections against silica dust exposure, linked to severe lung damage, are on shaky ground. Efforts by retired miners and advocates aim to push back against government rollbacks affecting health and safety regulations, fighting for better protections for those who work in high-risk environments.

OAK HILL, W.Va. (AP) — Lisa Emery beams with pride as she talks about her ‘boys,’ the coal miners who come to her clinic. Yet that joy quickly morphs into sorrow as she recounts their struggles with black lung disease, which is increasingly afflicting younger miners in their 30s and 40s.

Emery leads the New River Health Association Black Lung Clinic and is witnessing a striking rise in younger miners requiring serious medical interventions, including double lung transplants, due to the impact of silica dust exposure while mining.

The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) previously approved a regulation intended to cut exposure to crystalline silica dust in half—a move that could help protect these miners. But this rule is now in jeopardy amid regulatory rollbacks and political opposition. Retired miners, feeling a sense of betrayal by political leaders, are demanding action to honor commitments to improve their health and safety.

As concerns about mine safety grow, many miners like Mark F. Powell are left grappling with deteriorating health. He laments, “If you’ve ever about drowned… I go through that every morning,” reflecting the daily struggles with breathing that so many face.

Amidst industry pushback against regulations, miners and advocates are standing firm, rallying for stronger protections. As Emery observes, the crisis facing these workers is not just about jobs; it's about saving lives.