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Howard Berkus

Howard Berkus

Retired NPR Investigations Correspondent with 38 years at NPR, known for award-winning investigative reporting on coal mine safety, black lung disease, and the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.

Oct 9, 2026

The Allegheny Front

The Allegheny Front

Episode for October 9, 2026: Rise of black lung disease in Appalachia

Oct 9 · 30m

Reid FraserCORRESPONDENT
5:34
What happens when a coal miner gets black lung disease? What are the treatments and is there a cure?
Howard Berkus
Howard BerkusGUEST
5:41
It's an incurable disease.
Howard Berkus
Howard BerkusGUEST
5:43
In advanced stages, it's fatal.
Howard Berkus
Howard BerkusGUEST
5:46
unless a coal miner is lucky enough to get a lung transplant.
Howard Berkus
Howard BerkusGUEST
5:50
There have only been a little more than 130 lung transplants since 1995 for coal miners with black lung.
Howard Berkus
Howard BerkusGUEST
6:00
because their other body organs have been weakened, don't survive that long.
Howard Berkus
Howard BerkusGUEST
6:04
Minors don't survive as long with new lungs as other people who get new lungs.
Reid FraserCORRESPONDENT
10:41
What is the mining industry saying about this? And why does it say that these regulations are too tough?

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