A new study finds that people living nearest to streams polluted by coal mining are more likely to die of various types of cancer, even after adjusting for other factors that could affect health outcomes such as smoking. The study, released last week, was focused on West Virginia, but scientists believe its findings likely apply to anywhere in the Central Appalachian region that coal mining takes place.

The study took three measures into consideration - levels of stream pollution from coal mining, cancer deaths amongst residents, and proximity of those who died to areas of high mining intensity. The scientists found that, for those living near lots of coal mining and thus near streams heavily polluted by mining activities, rates of death from the following types of cancer increase:

• Respiratory
• Digestive
  
• Urinary
  
• Breast

Dr. Michael Hendryx, who testified about the public health impacts of coal mining before the Kentucky General Assembly this year, co-authored the study. Click here to read more about Dr. Hendryx's testimony and to learn more about the public health impacts of coal.

The scientists concluded that the integrity of the environment in coal mining areas is significantly related how many people die of cancer. They also state that study results suggest that coal mining demonstrates important effects on public health in these communities.

To download a handout that details the public health costs of coal-based electricity, click here.

 (Quote at right reposted from this Coal Tattoo blog story about this study.)