8 Comments
User's avatar
Letters from a West Virginian's avatar

I’d die on this hill with you! Black lung killed my grandfather and great-grandfather.

Expand full comment
Letters from a West Virginian's avatar

Amen!!!

Expand full comment
emma j's avatar

My great grandfather, a Pennsylvania coal miner, died of black lung. This shouldn’t still be happening.

Expand full comment
Tony Christini's avatar

And many of the NIOSH job cuts are happening in Appalachia: Morgantown, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati:

https://www.newsandsentinel.com/news/local-news/2025/04/federal-employees-protest-cuts-to-niosh-facility-in-morgantown/

Expand full comment
Alison Zak's avatar

Great (but of course heartbreaking) title. Thanks for breaking this down and sharing your thoughts! I will never understand the complete disregard for miners' health and safety on this topic...

Expand full comment
Charisse Davis, MPH's avatar

Well look at this:

The federal government pays benefits to coal miners affected by coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP, commonly referred to as black lung disease) and other lung diseases linked to coal mining in cases where responsible mine operators are not able to pay.

Expand full comment
Bananies's avatar

The administration’s agenda is to “cull the herd”. They don’t care how many die, we are all “disposable” to them.

Expand full comment
Dominique Coulet du Gard's avatar

How much did they pay those guys to pretend that coal is great for them?

Expand full comment