More than 200,000 coal miners plagued by pneumoconiosis, or black lung, will enjoy medical treatment as a total of 42 million yuan (US$5.4 million) has been so far raised for that purpose.

The money came from 18 large state-owned coal mining businesses, according to officials with the China coal mine pneumoconiosis treatment fund.

China has attached great importance to the prevention and control of this occupational disease and decided to treat the patients at the large state-owned coal mines at stages and in groups. By September, 338 workers received treatment.

Pneumoconiosis disease, caused by long exposure to mineral or metallic dust, is a major occupational disease in China, with over 580,000 patients, of which 140,000 died.

The fund plans to offer medical treatment to 600 workers next year and endeavors to enlarge the annual number to 6,000 to 8,000 in three to five years.

The treatment, though not the fundamental way to get rid of the disease, features infusing pure physiological saline solution into the patient's lungs to wash them. When the water flows out, it turns dark, bringing out coal dusts and alleviating the disease.

(Xinhua News Agency November 1, 2005)