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Four Queensland, Australia, coal mines have failed to meet dust monitoring regulations created to protect workers from developing black lung, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
Black lung is a form of occupational lung disease, as is mesothelioma, and both often take decades to develop. The two have similar symptoms, but differ in that black lung disease is not cancerous. It is a “type of lung disease affecting the tissues and gas-exchange surface of the lung,” often associated with dust from long-term coal mining and resulting in shortness of breath, loss of pulmonary function and eventually death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Australia has recently seen a resurgence of black lung. In February, New South Wales confirmed its first case since the 1970s. The reemergence has led to increased regulations.
The four mines accused of not meeting these new regulations fall under the authority of the Queensland Mines Inspectorate, which has the power to “order a full and independent audit of the mine’s safety and health management system instructions, or prosecute, or close the mine,” according to the news source.
The mines are not currently facing foreclosure or prosecution after officials met with the mine owners last week. “We are satisfied that all four of the mines have now satisfied the requirements under the safety and health directives issued to them last Friday,” a Mine Inspectorate spokesperson said.
Black lung was previously believed to be eradicated, highlighting a failure of the regulatory system meant to protect workers from the occupational hazard.
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