World Multimedia News📡 Al Jazeera EnglishBy Al Jazeera EnglishJun 4, 2026👁 1 views

Inside America's black lung crisis | Fault Lines Documentary

Black lung was once thought to be under control in the United States. But in Appalachia, it’s resurging, hitting coal miners younger and in more severe forms. Fault Lines follows former miners living with the disease, like John Robinson, who now struggles to breathe after decades underground. Mackie Branham Jr was diagnosed in his 30s and later underwent a double lung transplant. Radiologist Brandon Crum is tracking a rise in advanced cases, including miners in their 20s and 30s. The film examines what’s driving the surge. Changes in mining are exposing workers to more silica dust, which can …