A new report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that about 2 percent of surface miners tested in 2010-2011 had black lung disease. That's 46 of 2,257 miners. Twelve had the most severe form, and most of them never worked underground. The report found it was more prevalent in surface miners in Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia than in other coal mining states, with 31 of the 46 cases occurring in Central Appalachia. Researchers noted that miners in Central Appalachia typically worked in the coalfields about eight years longer than their counterparts in other states. CDC researcher Cara Halldin says Kentucky's rate was the highest at 5.7 percent, or 13 cases. Federal law sets a limit for respirable dust in both underground and surface coal mines but requires monitoring for the prevalence of black lung only at underground operations. Researchers suggest the limit may need to be lowered because it might be insufficient to protect against disease.
