This month I’m pleased to share with you that 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of occupational respiratory disease research at the NIOSH facility in Morgantown. In 1967 the Appalachian Laboratory for Occupational Respiratory Disease (ALFORD) was established within the U.S. Public Health Service, and in 1971 it became part of NIOSH. In 1977 ALFORD was renamed the Division of Respiratory Disease Studies (DRDS), which is now the Respiratory Health Division (RHD).
Respiratory health research conducted at the Morgantown facility was transformed by the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 (Coal Act) and its entry into NIOSH after the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act). The Coal Act assigned official responsibilities for research and service to prevent coal mine dust–induced lung disease, and these are still relevant and important today. The OSH Act and affiliation with NIOSH expanded ALFORD’s mission to advance prevention of work-related respiratory disease across the spectrum of occupations and industries. This also continues be a very important focus for NIOSH, since work-related respiratory disease continues to be one of the most important work-related health issues.