My husband pain in the center of his ribcage when he breathes deeply - like the bone is hurting. he was cleaning an old coal bin. what could it be?

Pleuritic : This could be : Musculoskeletal (most likely: means coming from his muscles, tendons, or structural parts of his chest. Reason could be he pulled a muscle or something. Rest up, if hurts too much try Aleve, (naproxen) Tyl etc and should resolve in the upcoming days. If Pneumonia , then he would have symptoms like fevers, cough, productive phlegm Because of heart, would be severe, left side, positional.