Chinese health officials have cautioned companies in pneumoconiosis-prone fields to continuously assess their employees and make sure proper treatment is sought when the disease is diagnosed. A report released in December showed that there were nearly 27,000 new cases in 2014, that is 16-fold higher compared with the previous years. 

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Of all occupation-related illnesses, about 90 percent of the cases are caused by pneumoconiosis. The National Health and Family Planning Commission in recent years has found that people who are diagnosed with the illness are at an increasingly younger age. Those living in the central and western regions are said to be the most prone, particularly people in jobs related to construction materials, mining and nonferrous metals.

"Employers should provide health checks for workers before, during and after jobs in which they are exposed to various kinds of dust," a statement released by the commission said. It further pointed out that an appropriate budget should be allocated for medical or work insurance to ensure adequate treatment is provided even to those who cannot afford it. The health agency also suggested that patients infected with pneumoconiosis should seek aid subsidies from their respective local government.

Pneumoconiosis is a group of lung disease resulting from inhaling dusts particles, which become lodged deep in the lungs and cause damage. Otherwise known as the "Black Lung Disease," it is considered an occupational lung disease. 

The disease is characterized by cough and shortness of breath. The risk is relatively high for those who are exposed to mineral dusts such as silica, asbestos and coal dust at increased concentrations or for a long period of time. So far, there is no known cure for the disease, and the best option is to provide palliative care to decrease further lung damage, relieve symptoms and improve patients' quality of life.

TagsPneumoconiosis, Black lung disease, china, National Health and Family Planning Commission