Australia; TAS
Coal mine dust can have different impacts on lung and immune cells depending on its chemical composition, according to Australian research, which could help explain differences in the rates and severity of "black lung disease" in coal miners. The researchers looked at 19 real-world Australian coal samples and found a strong link between cell toxicity and potassium oxide in the coal, while iron oxide or ferric oxide was linked to a reduction in inflammation. The authors say this shows that the detrimental effect of coal particles on lung cells is linked to the chemical make-up of the particles. They say their data highlights the potential for potassium oxide to be a marker of coal mine dust potency in terms of the risk they pose for "black lung disease" or coal workers’ pneumoconiosis.
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