The term “Pneumoconiosis” was coined by Zenker to define a group of diseases caused by inhalation of dust. The most common pneumoconiosis are silicosis, coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, and asbestosis.[1]

Silicosis is a fibrosing disease of the lung caused by the inhalation, retention, and pulmonary reaction to crystalline silica.[2]

Silicosis is known to cause random nodules, progressive massive fibrosis (PMF), and obstructive airway disease.[2]

Anthracosis or coal workers’ pneumoconiosis is seen in coal workers and is caused by inhalation and deposition of black pigments of which carbon is a major constituent.[3,4]

Air pollution, biomass smoke, and cigarette smoke are also known to cause deposition of black pigment leading to environmental anthracosis.

Environmental anthracosis usually leads to anthracofibrosis (anthracosis with bronchial narrowing) and obstructive airway disease. It is not known to cause PMF. Both anthracosis and silicosis have been reported due to nonoccupational cause.[5,6]

But anthracosilicosis, a form of mixed dust pneumoconiosis, has not been reported due to nonoccupational cause.

IMOGENE VANCE, age 89 of Paynesville, West Virginia, passed away on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, at Heritage Hall Nursing Home, Grundy, Virginia, following a brief illness.

She was born on November 11, 1933, at Jolo, West Virginia and was the daughter of the late Alonzo and Rebecca Hagerman. Imogene was a retired Nurse. She was active with her McDowell County Library Book Club, a member of the Church of Christ, and was active in the Bradshaw Mountain Community Baptist Church. Imogene was a lover of her dogs and cats.

Imogene worked all her life. She was a clerk in her father-in-law’s store on Bradshaw Mountain, clerk in the post office on Bradshaw Mountain for Bertha Horn, worked for several years in the West Virginia ABC stores in Bradshaw and War, West Virginia.

She also worked in home health and was director of the Black Lung Clinic at Yukon, West Virginia. She retired after working many years for Dr. M.B. Patel after helping him start his clinic. She considered Dr. Patel as one of her family members. Imogene, Ed, Lena Day, and Charlie Kennedy had a gospel singing group where they sang in various churches and used love offerings to help people in need.

Funeral services for Imogene Vance were held on Sunday, October 1, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at the Virginia Funeral Home Chapel, Grundy, Virginia, with Bob Cole and Doug Lowe officiating. Burial followed in the Vance Cemetery, Marshall Highway, Paynesville, West Virginia.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the McDowell County Public Library, 90 Howard Street, Welch, West Virginia, 24801.

Published by The Virginia Mountaineer on Oct. 5, 2023.