Self-Reported Cancer Rates in Two Rural Areas of West Virginia with and Without Mountaintop Coal Mining

Abstract

Mountaintop coal mining in the Appalachian region in the United States causes significant environmental damage to air and water. Serious health disparities exist for people who live in coal mining portions of Appalachia, but little previous research has examined disparities specifically in mountaintop mining communities. A community-based participatory research study was designed and implemented to collect information on cancer rates in a rural mountaintop mining area compared to a rural non-mining area of West Virginia. A door-door health interview collected data from 773 adults. Self-reported cancer rates were significantly higher in the mining versus the non-mining area after control for respondent age, sex, smoking, occupational history, and family cancer history (odds ratio = 2.03, 95% confidence interval = 1.32-3.13). Mountaintop mining is linked to increased community cancer risk. Efforts to reduce cancer and other health disparities in Appalachia must focus on mountaintop mining portions of the region.

Atmospheric particulate matter in proximity to mountaintop coal mines: sources and potential environmental and human health impacts

“…Surface mining methods are generally more economical and considered to be safer for workers than underground mining, but environmental impacts to nearby areas and health impacts to nearby residents must be considered. Recent epidemiological studies indicate residents of the surface mining area in this study have elevated chronic cardiovascular disease mortality, cancer mortality, total mortality, and respiratory symptoms compared to people living in the control area (Ahern and Hendryx 2012;Esch and Hendryx 2011;Hendryx et al 2012;Hendryx 2011;Hendryx and Ahern 2008;Hendryx and Luo 2014). The human respiratory system is directly affected by aluminosilicate dust exposure, and the link between PM exposure and both respiratory and cardiovascular diseases is well established (Brook et al 2010;Dockery 2001;Dominici et al 2006;Pope and Dockery 2006;Schwartz 1994).…”

“…Residents of MTM areas have significantly higher prevalence of birth defects compared to residents of non-mining areas (Ahern et al 2011). Chronic cardiovascular disease mortality and cancer mortality are significantly elevated in Appalachian counties practicing MTM compared to nonmining Appalachian counties (Ahern and Hendryx 2012;Esch and Hendryx 2011;Hendryx et al 2012;Hendryx and Ahern 2008).…”

The importance of public participation in monitoring risks in large-scale industrial projects: An Australian experience

“…Coal miners in India are equally aware of these health problems [6][7][8]. Mostly, these papers [18][19][20][21][22][23][24] are well-researched scholarly works from prestigious universities and are published in peer-reviewed journals. They use statistical analysis to exclude other covariant effects on health such as smoking, obesity, drug-abuse, low income and poor education.…”

Spatial and Psychosocial Influences on Food Access in Rural Appalachia

“…Extensive mining activity has long been recognized as a water quality threat (Hendryx, Wolfe, Luo, & Webb, 2011;Shiber, 2005). Public water safety incidents, like food recalls, may have lasting damage on consumer confidence (De Jonge, Van Trijp, Renes, & Frewer, 2007).…”