The Generic Mineral Technology Center for Respirable Dust (GTCRD) is the only recognized research entity engaged in studying the engineering, scientific and medical aspects leading to respirable coal dust disease—coal workers' Pneumoconiosis (CWP)—a.k.a. black lung. The Center, established in 1983, was given the mandate to enhance the health, safety, and productivity of miners through advancing the fundamental understanding of all aspects of respirable dust associated with mining, milling, and the interaction of dust with lungs to reduce the incidence of the disease. Concurrent with the research endeavors, the Center was also mandated to maintain a collection of the publications reflecting the research findings developed under the auspices of the Center Programs. This collection represents the most extensive assemblage of publications on respirable dust research in the United States. Published annually, the collection is entitled Publications of the Generic Mineral Technology Center for Respirable Dust, and is located at Pennsylvania State University. In addition to the publication documents, the Center hosted three symposia. The symposia proceedings are also held with the collection. Access to the documents can be gained through Dr. R. Ramani, Director of the GTCRD, Mineral Industries Building, University Park, PA 16802

A brief overview of the research activities of the Center may be found in A Decade of Respirable Dust Research for the Mineral Industries. The book is a ten-year summary covering the period 1983-1993. The book may be obtained from The Pennsylvania State University Dust Center Office’s as noted above.

A five (5) part series of newspaper articles were published by the Courier-Journal in Louisville, KY during the week of April 19, 1998. The articles may be accessed from their web site at: http://www.courier-journal.com/dust/index.html.

Several medical based issues on the topic were published by:

Occupational Medicine, Vol. 8:1 (1993) – The Mining Industry

Occupational Medicine, Vol. 15:2 (2000) – Occupational Asthma

NIOSH has several publications related to the subject matter (1-800-35-NIOSH)

Pneumoconiosis in Appalachian Bituminous Coal Miners Public Health Service, Publication No. 2000 (1969)

Chronic Respiratory Disease in Coal Miners, DHHS (NIOSH) Pub. No. 81-109 (1981)

Occupational Exposure to Respirable Coal Mine Dust, DHHS (NIOSH) Pub. No. 95-106 (1995)

Work-Related Lung Disease Surveillance Report–1999, DHHS (NIOSH) Pub. No. 2000-105