Aussie coal miners feared to have black lung disease: union

Up to 1, 000 coal marines are feared to have contracted black lung disease, 30 years after it was supposedly eradicated, Australia's mining union says amid claims of a cover-up.

The disease publicly resurfaced in Australia early in December after the Queensland state authorities confirmed three coal miners had tested positive to black lung.

However, Australia's mining union the CFMEU on Friday said there have been clear failings by the authorities to ensure coal dust is safely managed at mine sites, and that 150,000 screening x-rays held by the Queensland state mines department have not been processed.

Coal miners in the state are required to undergo a medical assessment prior to commencing work and then at least once every five years. However, the union claims the radiologists aren't qualified to detect black lung.

"It's been supposedly eradicated for 30 years, but it hasn't been eradicated at all," CFEMU safety and health officer Jason Hill told Australia's national broadcaster on Friday.

"It's been hidden, covered up -- we don't have the people qualified to do it."

However, the Queensland Resources Council told local media the union's claims are without foundation and amount to "irresponsible scaremongering".

The claims came as the Queensland state government is due to hold an inquiry into the resurgence of the disease at its coal mine sites.

The union claims 16 percent of the current and retired coal-mining workforce will eventually be diagnosed with black lung. Endit