MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The NIOSH black lung screening mobile unit is at Mylan Park through Thursday to provide free and confidential screenings for the disease. The unit will be at Mylan Park Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Public health analyst with the NIOSH Respiratory Health Division and field coordinator for the Health Surveillance Program, Chris Parker said it’s important for anyone who has served any amount of time working as coal miner to take advantage of the free test. The rates of the disease and other lung ailments is being seen younger miners all the time, regardless of how much time they’ve been on the job.

“We’re seeing higher case numbers of black lung especially in younger miners and miner with a shorter tenure of work history,” Parker said. ” So, black lung and silicosis are now major concerns.”

The unit is sitting in front of the Hazel & J.W. Ruby McQuain Community Center where miners will be asked to complete some paperwork before going in for the test.

“It consists of a chest radiograph or x-ray and spirometry which is a lung function test,” Parker said. ” We also provide a health history questionnaire and a work history questionnaire.”

Parker said miners don’t need to bring anything with them, but they are welcomed to bring any documentation of their work history.

“If they would like to bring a history to help them remember when they fill out the form that’s totally an option, otherwise just come on down and be prepared to talk,” Parker said.

The tests will be reviewed by NIOH physicians who will make the determinations that will be forwarded to the miner.

“The miner will receive a letter in the mail eight to ten weeks after the screening which will have all the information about their results and further steps,” Parker said.

Next week, the unit will be at the Craig Civic Center in Kingwood at 311 Tunnelton Street Tuesday, July 30 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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