“…In an attempt to provide an indicator of human cancer mortality rates, Hitt & Hendryx (2010) characterised ecological integrity of streams and examined this in conjunction with cancer mortality rates. Certain types of cancer (i.e., digestive, respiratory, urinary) rates increased as ecological integrity decreased, where coal mining was significantly associated with lower ecological integrity and higher cancer mortality (Hitt & Hendryx, 2010).The organic compounds found in coal-associated waters are typically aromatic, and numerous compounds are toxic and/or carcinogenic (Fisher & Santamaria, 2002). The compounds of interest are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, aromatic amines, and heterocyclic compounds, which can act as endocrine disruptors, can have nephrotoxic activity, and can be carcinogenic (Orem, Tatu, Pavlovic, et al, 2007).…”