logo white

e-Toolkit

Silicosis and dust-related diseases

A note from our CEO
Section I: Taking action to eliminate silicosis and dust-related diseases
Ideal management approaches
Current challenges and uncertainties
National action plans and strategies for silicosis/dust diseases
Potential issues arising from action
Section II: Country summaries, case studies and resources
Silica country summaries – Australia
Silica country summaries – International
Pneumoconiosis case studies
Research on silicosis and dust-related diseases
Section III: What silica and other occupational dusts are and the risks they pose
Mineralogical features of silica
Other dust/fume-related exposures
Exposure pathways
Historical progression of silica and other dust-related diseases
Section IV: Health impacts of exposure to asbestos
What are dust/fume-related diseases?
How are dust-related diseases diagnosed?
Clinical features of silicosis and other dust-related diseases
Patient support, care and information
Reporting, coding and registration of occupational dust-related diseases

Coal miners Pneumoconiosis: United States: Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis–Associated Deaths — United States, 2020–2023

Summary

What is already known about this topic?

Coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP) is an occupational lung disease caused by inhaling coal mine dust. Although the disease is preventable, new cases and CWP-associated deaths continue to occur.

What is added by this report?

In this exploratory analysis of 2020–2023 national cause-of-death data, 1,754 deaths associated with CWP among U.S. residents aged ≥15 years were reported (age-adjusted CWP death rate = 1.3 per 1 million). Increased risk for CWP-associated death was observed among workers in the mining industry and among construction and extraction workers.

What are the implications for public health practice?

The continuing occurrence of CWP-associated deaths underscores the potential value of a comprehensive prevention program (control of exposures to coal mine dust, early disease detection, and medical care) and supports potential benefits of ongoing surveillance.

Abstract

Coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP) is a preventable, progressive occupational lung disease caused by inhaling respirable coal mine dust, a complex mixture commonly containing coal, crystalline silica, and other silicate minerals. Early pneumoconiosis can be asymptomatic, but advanced disease often leads to disability and premature death. To describe CWP-associated mortality among U.S. residents aged ≥15 years by industry and occupation, CDC conducted an exploratory analysis of National Vital Statistics System multiple cause-of-death data for 2020–2023, the most recent years that include information on decedents’ usual industry and occupation. During 2020–2023, CWP was listed on the death certificate of 1,754 decedents (age-adjusted CWP-associated death rate = 1.3 per 1 million). By industry group, the highest number of CWP-associated deaths occurred among workers in the mining industry (1,255). The highest proportionate mortality ratios (PMRs) were among persons employed in the mining industry (PMR = 50.0) and the construction and extraction occupations (6.2). Among workers employed in the mining industry, the highest PMR was among underground mining machine operators (164.6). The continuing occurrence of CWP-associated deaths underscores the potential value of a comprehensive prevention program (maintaining efforts to control occupational coal mine dust exposures, combined with early disease detection efforts and medical care) and supports potential benefits of ongoing surveillance.

Reference

Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis–Associated Deaths — United States, 2020–2023

Weekly / December 18, 2025 / 74(41);627–633 

Jacek M. Mazurek, MD; Katelynn E. Dodd, MPH; Girija Syamlal, MBBS; David J. Blackley, DrPH; David N. Weissman, MD.

Read more

Sign up to our newsletter

Sign up
Skip to content