Impact of Coal Mining on Self-Rated Health among Appalachian Residents

Abstract

Objective. To determine the impact of coal mining, measured as the number of coal mining-related facilities nearby one's residence or employment in an occupation directly related to coal mining, on self-rated health in Appalachia. Methods. Unadjusted and adjusted ordinal logistic regression models calculated odds ratio estimates and associated 95% confidence intervals for the probability of having an excellent self-rated health response versus another response. Covariates considered in the analyses included number of coal mining-related facilities nearby one's residence and employment in an occupation directly related to coal mining, as well as potential confounders age, sex, BMI, smoking status, income, and education. Results. The number of coal mining facilities near the respondent's residence was not a statistically significant predictor of self-rated health. Employment in a coal-related occupation was a statistically significant predictor of self-rated health univariably; however, after adjusting for potential confounders, it was no longer a significant predictor. Conclusions. Self-rated health does not seem to be associated with residential proximity to coal mining facilities or employment in the coal industry. Future research should consider additional measures for the impact of coal mining.

Systematic review of community health impacts of mountaintop removal mining

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Is self‐rated health associated with ideal cardiovascular health? The Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

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Environmental health disparities in the Central Appalachian region of the United States

“…Although heightened obesity rates found in Appalachia can partially explain disparities in cardiovascular disease (CVD), several studies indicate that, even after accounting for obesity rates and socioeconomic factors, deaths from CVD are positively associated with the amount of coal produced at the county level [35,36], particularly in counties with mountaintop removal mining [37]. These findings are consistent with a wide and robust body of literature linking fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 μm (PM 2.5 ) exposure to cardiovascular toxicity, though it is worth nothing that the literature is primarily focused on PM 2.5 and its constituents in urban environments [38].…”