Did you suffer symptoms of black lung disease after wearing a 3M dust mask that you thought was protecting you?

Coal miners who depended upon 3M dust masks to protect their lungs allege the masks were defective and allowed coal dust to enter their lungs.

Black lung disease, also known as coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, has been on the rise for the last several years. In February 2018, the Journal of the American Medical Association said the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found 416 new cases of black lung disease among a population of coal miners in Appalachia.

Coal miners are at risk of inhaling a variety of toxic chemicals. Irritating gases such as methane, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen sulfide can be fatal if too much is inhaled. Coal mine dust is so fine that it can settle along the airways of the lungs and become black lung disease.

What Causes Black Lung Disease to Manifest?

Inhaled coal dust initiates a reaction in the body. White blood cells interpret the coal dust as infection and try to rid the body of the dust by chemically digesting it. As the cells try to break down the dust, the cells die and then release enzymes that cause damaging inflammation in the lung tissue.

What Happens After Black Lung Disease Sets In?

As more coal dust is inhaled, more white blood cells are sent to fight off the particles. Over time, excessive scarring can become progressive massive fibrosis, a condition known as the most severe stage of black lung disease because the lung volume becomes so restrictive that it becomes very difficult to breathe.

Initial symptoms of black lung disease include a persistent cough, which may be accompanied by black sputum, shortness of breath, and a tight chest. This disease could be caused by lack of proper mask.

Is Black Lung Disease Curable?

No, there is no cure. Inhalers, such as those used to treat asthma symptoms, might help reduce inflammation of tissue but cannot open airways that are already damaged by scar tissue.

Some patients must carry oxygen tanks to help them breathe. In cases where a person is otherwise very healthy, a doctor might suggest a lung transplant.

Why Did a Jury Award More Than $67 Million to Two Men with Black Lung Disease?

A Kentucky jury found that 3M dust masks the men were issued were in such a “defective and unreasonably dangerous condition” that the company should have never marketed the masks for the prevention of coal dust inhalation.

Even though 3M was not deemed 100 percent at fault for the men’s injuries, the company faced $62.5 million in punitive damages to acknowledge the pain and suffering the men have suffered and will continue to suffer as implications of developing black lung disease that the masks did not prevent.

What if I Used 3M Masks and Have Symptoms of Black Lung Disease?

Other lawsuits against 3M are currently in the works because numerous coal miners have depended on the allegedly defective masks for years. If you are or have been a coal miner and have been diagnosed with black lung disease, you could benefit from speaking with an experienced lawyer regarding your legal options.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.