POLITICO: The Deadly Disease That Really Scares Coal Miners

This article follows West Virginia coal miners as they lobby for better protections of black lung benefits in their state capitol. In addition, it documents the difficult reality of living with black lung disease.

“You go in healthy and if you’re not killed by a rock fall or run over by a piece of equipment, the best that’s going to happen to you with 10 to 20 years of service is you’re going to have black lung,” he said. “You’ll still be alive but you’re going to suffer. So mining is a no-win situation.”

Read the article here.