Spike In Black Lung Cases Strains Federal Benefits Program

By Howard Berkes

Published December 16, 2016 at 4:30 PM EST

In the second of two reports, NPR looks at the causes of a dramatic spike in progressive massive fibrosis, the most serious stage of the coal miners' disease, black lung. The spike also could stress the federal black lung benefits program, which is already struggling. (Read and listen to the first story ).

Howard Berkes

Howard Berkes is a correspondent for the NPR Investigations Unit.

See stories by Howard Berkes

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Spike In Black Lung Cases Strains Federal Benefits Program