New research suggests not all coal mine dust is equal when it comes to lung damage. 

Coal mine dust can have different impacts on lung and immune cells depending on its chemical composition, according to Australian experts. They say their findings could help explain differences in the rates and severity of black lung disease in coal miners. 

The researchers looked at 19 real-world Australian coal samples and found a strong link between cell toxicity and potassium oxide in the coal, while iron oxide or ferric oxide was linked to a reduction in inflammation. 

The authors say this shows that the detrimental effect of coal particles on lung cells is linked to the chemical make-up of the particles. 

They say their data highlights the potential for potassium oxide to be a marker of coal mine dust potency in terms of the risk they pose for black lung disease or coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP).

The full study is accessible here.