Up to 1,000 coalminers could have black lung disease, says mining union

The CFMEU says it is very concerned about a Queensland backlog of 150,000 screening x-rays that have not been properly processed

As many as 1,000 coalminers may have black lung disease, the mining union says.

The potentially fatal disease is caused by the inhalation of coal dust over a long period, and can emerge up to 15 years after exposure.