The Effects Of Coal Mining On The Health Of The Body

When asked to think of coal mining, what comes to mind? A mountain with a hole cut into the side of it with a set of railroad tracks disappearing into it? Maybe an old mine car or two full of some rocks or coal, with a pickaxe and shovel leaning against it. A few guys with hard hats covered in a black powder coming walking out of the mine pushing a car or two full of coal. The technology has advanced but the process is basically still the same as well as the outcome. Coal is retrieved from underground and taken to factories to be burnt to create electricity or to fuel the steel mills.

In the film, “October Sky”, the main occupation during that era was to work at the coal mine; almost every man worked as a miner to obtain money to raise their family. The coal mine is a very dangerous place to work however: a large amount of dust in the coal mine can cause respiratory damage to the miners and the rocks and debris can kill the miners if it falls on them.

Reforms were made during industrialization to help improve the poor working conditions present in mines and factories that had been created by the rapidly expanding workforce. Workers often worked in conditions that had detrimental effects on their long term health and had many hazards. Miners were exposed to heavy falling rocks, excessive smoke, poisonous gas and bad air. They often got what is known as miners’ asthma and many died from it (Doc 1). Factory workers worked in cramped, unclean buildings that had many fire hazards and safety issues.

Coal ash is a byproduct of burning coal in power plants and is composed mainly of aluminum and silicon oxides. This ash is commonly stored away in dump sites, only to leach out solutions of concentrated toxic heavy metals. Such issues are detrimental to the health of water systems, posing both a human and environmental health risk. However, there are solutions to this problem. Coal ash possesses unique chemical properties that allow for the remediation of other environmental concerns, such as the treatment of soil polluted with heavy metals, the removal of nutrients from wastewater, and the remediation of acid mine drainage in streams.

A documentary called "From the Ashes" speaks about the employees, and communities that are supported by coal mines. In the documentary the director of Sierra Club's Beyond Coal campaign, Mary Anne Hitt, goes on to describe a "life and death struggle" when mine layoffs occur. This means that the employees will lose their pensions, healthcare, and basically their livelihood. It was believed that the increase of miner layoffs was due to environmental regulations, but that was proven incorrect by the US Energy and Information Administration. One of the leading causes is the increased use of natural gases, and a statistical analysis over a 6 year time period proves that when natural gas usage increases, then coal usage

Once black lung was discovered the movement began. Three studies done by the U.S. Public Health Service between 1924 and 1945 failed to bring recognition of black lung as a problematic condition. American medical opinion was that miner’s asthma reflected a normal condition of mine work and actually posed no serious problems. “Some doctors even went so far as to claim that coal

Could you imagine living life trying to be successful and making a living to make sure you have food on the table? Now can you also imagine having that same occupation be the same thing that is danger to yourself and the life that you’ve built? Black Lung Disease. A disease that has pledged many working families around the world. Most commonly known as “Lung Disease “or Coal worker’s pneumoconiosis, black lung disease was first discovered long ago but not much was known about the disease until the 1950s. This disease is caused by the inhalation of coal dust and usually results in the lungs turning black instead of being its normal pink. The disease is most commonly found among miners of hard coal, but it also occurs in soft-coal miners and graphite workers. The beginning of the disease is gradual; the symptoms usually appear only after 10–20 years of exposure to coal dust, and the extent of disease is clearly related to the total dust exposure. It is not clear whether coal itself is solely responsible for the disease, as coal dust often is contaminated with silica, which causes similar symptoms. There is strong evidence that tobacco smoking aggravates the condition. The early stages of the disease (when it is called anthracnosis) usually have no symptoms, but in its more advanced form it frequently is associated with pulmonary emphysema or chronic bronchitis and can be disabling; tuberculosis is also more common in victims of black lung. In 2013 CWP resulted in 25,000 deaths down from 29,000 deaths in 1990. The inhalation and accumulation of coal dust into the lungs increases the risk of developing chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The disease gets its name from a distinctive blue-black marbling of the lung caused by accumulation of the dust. Georgius Agricola, a German mineralogist, first described lung disease in coal miners in the 16th century, and it is now widely recognized. It may be the best known occupational illness in the United States.

Sadly, many men have lost their jobs and become miners. Mining is a job with a steady income; however, it brings home lung diseases and medical bills. Mining used to be this great thing everybody wanted as a job down in Appalachia. Mining effects are much greater than any other job. “Estimates suggest such accidents kill about 12,000 people a year” (“The Dangers of Mining”). In Inez, Kentucky, with a population of only 750, 6% is jobless. More jobs in the mines are becoming more of a hassle, due to the government worrying about working conditions. Siliceous, Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis (CWP), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are all side effects of coal mining and big concerns to higher officials. ("Mining Impacts"). The median household in Appalachia central is 51% lower than national average, and it is lowering by the months. The environment surrounding these counties is either polluted with smoke from the mines or has litter everywhere. Polluted areas causes species to not come back, or to even die off. In a food chain, if one thing disappears, it messes with the whole system. Working in factories and not needing a college education works out great for half the

Factory, mill, and mining work in Britain may be very hazardous to one’s health, especially with regards to the health of children, according to reports by workers and medical experts. Harsh working conditions results in the poor health of workers as well as injuries.

When new miners arrive in the town of Matewan, they are automatically in debt to the company store for the equipment need to begin working. Throughout the life of the coal miners they are at the mercy of the company's scams and whims. Coal mining is a dangerous operation; not only by chance of mishap, but the coal miners are in great risk of ill health due to the inhalation of coal dust, and the physical strain of working such a laborious trade. The coal company is insensible to the health concerns of the miners; individuals are irrelevant to the industrial company, and they are secure on the knowledge that a fresh supply of young, healthy, able-bodied workers will fall into their grasp.

The growing demand for consumer goods, such as electricity, fuel for vehicles, plastics and petrochemical products, etc., threatens the biodiversity. It also threatens the ecosystems and effects the environmental health. Many Navajo people traveled to mines off the reservation seeking work and would often move their families with them in mine camps. The mineworkers, the only job that was available, were paid at an hourly wage was less than a dollar. The jobs included blasters, timber men, muckers, transporters, and millers. Other health hazards have emerged, in particular uranium mining. The hazards of uranium mining have caused serious respiratory disease and that other respiratory illnesses, including silicosis, tuberculosis, pneumonia, and emphysema, were causing deaths in uranium mineworkers at rates approaching those from lung cancer.

“Past uranium mining has contaminated homes, land, and soil at 520 cites across the Navajo Nation… drinking water from at least 22 wells are unfit for consumption… and researchers have documented numerous cancers… among Navajo people attributable to radiation” (Minard, 2). On the other hand, the health effects of coal “emissions result in asthma, bronchitis, heart attack, and premature death” (Rowe, 2). With the extreme dependence on coal for energy in Arizona the health effects of the mining are not researched because without coal many cities will not have energy. “There are no independent studies showing the impact of the mines on the health of the people in the tribal lands” (Rowe, 2). This illustrates a huge point in the exploitation of the Indigenous people. Showing how the government and big companies only care about profit and providing cities with power rather than the health of the Navajo and Hopi who provide this resource. The Indigenous People’s health is not a priority but their manual labor is crucial for the company’s profit. So until there are not enough Indigenous People to work the mines their health will not be a prime

Lung disease and accidents have always led to high rates of death or disability amongst miners. The lung diseases that affect miners are called pneumoconiosis or black lung. Coal worker’s pneumoconiosis can be defined as the accumulation of coal dust in the lungs and the tissue’s. “Inhaled coal dust enters the terminal bronchioles, and the carbon pigment is engulfed by alveolar and interstitial macrophages. Phagocytes coal particles are transported by macrophages up the mucociliary elevator and are expelled in the mucus or through the lymphatic system” (Pneumoconiosis in China).

I sat quietly in the large van. Everyone was quiet. We were swaying back and forth as the car rounded each bend, moving with the mountain. The car slowly climbed up, revealing more peaks. I took in the atmosphere with every breath. The mountain rose and fell like sand dunes. Fog blanketed the mountaintop illuminating the green tree tops and emphasizing the dark leaves of others. The van continued in peace. As we swung around one last corner, the silence was broken and a unified gasp filled the vehicle. Our sight was stolen. The utopian mountaintop was replaced with flat, gray, barren land. The passengers were shocked and the murmurs bubbled

The mining industry has seen an explosive growth from the past few decades. It has played an important role in economic growth, infrastructure development and a raise in the living standard of the whole world. According to the Australian National Accounting System, the mining sector has made contributions of 9.8% GDP growth to the Australian economy between 2008 to 2009 (Australia Bureau of Statistics, 2012). However, the mining industry has caused many environmental issues such as adverse effect to air, land and water quality and continues to affect global environment as a whole. According to the World Health Organization, it evaluated that 25% of worldwide death are directly associated with environmental pollution (Blacksmith Institute, n.d). This essay will outline the environmental issue raised by the mining industry with pinpoint focus on the effects to air, water and land. It will also provide strategies for mining companies to improve the environmental conditions.