South African gold miners suffering from lung disease are suing British mining giant Anglo American, in a case their lawyers say could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Lawyers representing 450 South African miners filed the lawsuit in Britain's High Court on Wednesday.

The law firm Leigh Day & Company says its clients contracted silicosis or silico-tuberculosis because they were exposed to excessive amounts of dust while working at the company's mines in South Africa.

The illnesses are caused by the long-term inhalation of tiny dust particles.

Anglo American confirmed Wednesday that it had been notified of the latest lawsuit against its South Africa unit.

The firm said that other companies who operated the mines were responsible for the health and safety of the employees and had taken “reasonable” measures to protect them.

Anglo American, one of the world's largest mining companies, has denied liability in similar claims filed in South African courts.