Occupational lung disease deaths have declined

Preventable lung diseases caused by inhaling dust or other harmful particles on a job site are known as pneumoconioses, and a new CDC report finds that deaths from the condition have decreased by 40% in recent years. The report looked at national death data between 1999-2018, and found that while there were more than 2,700 cases of pneumoconioses in 1999, that fell to around 1,600 in 2018. Those aged 75-84 made up the largest group of those who died from pneumoconioses, and the condition was also most common among males and those who were white. Asbestos was associated with about 60% of the deaths, followed by coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (also known as black lung disease). This last group also saw the biggest decline — of nearly 70% — in pneumoconioses deaths since 1999.