How Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis is Treated
There is no treatment that can reverse the damage done by coal dust, but certain steps can help slow down progression of the disease, relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
Once the severity of exposure has been determined, your healthcare provider can determine the best course of action. Medications, such as bronchodilator inhalers that help open your airways, corticosteroid inhalers or pills that decrease inflammation and other treatments may be prescribed. In most cases, pulmonary rehabilitation, a program of education and exercise to increase awareness about your lungs and your disease, is recommended to help improve quality of life.
As scarring in the lungs becomes more severe, supplemental oxygen may be prescribed to help you get more air into your lungs when needed. Though you may need it only while exercising at the beginning, as the disease progresses, you may need it more frequently. In rare, very severe cases, a lung transplant may be recommended.
Avoiding further exposure and avoiding other irritants, such as cigarette smoke, is crucial. If you smoke cigarettes or use other tobacco products like e-cigarettes or vaping devices, you will be strongly advised to quit. The American Lung Association offers a number of smoking cessation programs to support people who want to quit.
Managing Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis
If you have black lung disease, you should expect to have regular visits with your healthcare provider(s). You may need regular testing, such as a lung function test or chest X-ray, to monitor your disease closely.
Your healthcare provider can help manage your symptoms, but you can also take steps to keep yourself healthy by doing the following:
- Maintain weight and nutrition with a well-balanced diet.
- Stay active according to your provider’s guidance.
- Prevent respiratory infections that can make your lungs worse. Get vaccinated against the flu every year. Your provider may recommend additional vaccinations such as pneumococcal pneumonia, COVID-19 and RSV.
- Stay inside when air pollution is severe and pollen counts are high.
- Avoid breathing pollutants that can trigger shortness of breath, including secondhand smoke, traffic fumes, smog, aerosol sprays and vapors from products such as paint, kerosene and cleaning agents.
- Be vigilant about monitoring your condition and watching for signs of infection (worsening fatigue, fevers, confusion, weight loss, low oxygen saturation or low peak airflow on home monitoring, etc.). See your healthcare provider immediately if one develops.
- Have a plan to manage flare-ups. Maintain an updated account of emergency contacts with your healthcare provider, and become familiar with local services which can help you manage your medications and medical equipment while at home or while traveling.
- Visit your provider regularly to receive updated guidance on how to manage your condition and for monitoring the development of other related conditions (autoimmune conditions, tuberculosis infections, lung cancer, etc.).
Prevention
Black lung disease is preventable, which is why the Mine Safety and Health Administration has a set of safety standards to help protect workers. These guidelines include wearing respirators, washing any skin that comes in contact with dust, safely removing dust from all clothing and washing the face and hands before eating, drinking or taking medication. Additionally, all mines are regulated to limit how much coal dust is in the air. If there is concern that the air in the working environment does not meet regulatory standards, an investigation can be prompted by contacting the local health authority and/or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Page last updated: June 5, 2026
