Coal’s Human Cost (2026)

A stark resurgence of black lung is striking veteran underground coal workers across Appalachia, driving case numbers to their highest point in nearly five decades. Brought to you by PBS Frontline alongside NPR, Public Health Watch, and the Appalachia & Mid-South Newsroom via Porchlight News, this comprehensive investigation reveals how corporate operators and regulatory bodies have consistently fallen short in shielding frontline laborers from this relentless, untreatable respiratory condition. Our findings shine a light on a brewing public health emergency rooted in systemic oversight and industrial negligence.