Black Lung Disease

Black lung disease is prevalent in cities with high rate of air pollution like Tehran, said Dr Hamid Sohrabpour, pulmonary disease specialist. Coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP), also known as black lung disease is caused by long exposure to coal dust or carbon in air, salamatnews.com reported. “Unfortunately, the disease doesn’t have any symptoms in the early stages and it can be diagnosed only through bronchoscopy.” In recent times, the disease (that was rare in the past) has been diagnosed among some of Tehran residents, mostly living in areas that have the highest pollution levels. The disease is common among coal miners and people who have lived in polluted cities over a long period of time.