Comparison of Mortality Disparities in Central Appalachian Coal- and Non—Coal-Mining Counties

Woolley, Shannon M.; Meacham, Susan; Balmert, Lauren C.; Talbott, Evelyn O.; Buchanich, Jeanine M.

doi:10.1097/jom.0000000000000435

Cited by 18 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 21 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Epidemiologically, health effects of coal mining have been outlined (81, 88), but, until recently, no comparisons had been drawn between areas surrounding underground and MTM sites. Studies have reported that PM MTM causes an increase in chronic cardiovascular disease mortality rates among populations in close proximity to active MTM sites (28).…”

Section: New and Noteworthymentioning

confidence: 99%

Cardiac and mitochondrial dysfunction following acute pulmonary exposure to mountaintop removal mining particulate matter

Nichols

Shepherd

Knuckles

et al. 2015

American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Throughout the United States, air pollution correlates with adverse health outcomes, and cardiovascular disease incidence is commonly increased following environmental exposure. In areas surrounding active mountaintop removal mines (MTM), a further increase in cardiovascular morbidity is observed and may be attributed in part to particulate matter (PM) released from the mine. The mitochondrion has been shown to be central in the etiology of many cardiovascular diseases, yet its roles in PM-related cardiovascular effects are not realized. In this study, we sought to elucidate the cardiac processes that are disrupted following exposure to mountaintop removal mining particulate matter (PMMTM). To address this question, we exposed male Sprague-Dawley rats to PMMTM, collected within one mile of an active MTM site, using intratracheal instillation. Twenty-four hours following exposure, we evaluated cardiac function, apoptotic indices, and mitochondrial function. PMMTM exposure elicited a significant decrease in ejection fraction and fractional shortening compared with controls. Investigation into the cellular impacts of PMMTM exposure identified a significant increase in mitochondrial-induced apoptotic signaling, as reflected by an increase in TUNEL-positive nuclei and increased caspase-3 and -9 activities. Finally, a significant increase in mitochondrial transition pore opening leading to decreased mitochondrial function was identified following exposure. In conclusion, our data suggest that pulmonary exposure to PMMTM increases cardiac mitochondrial-associated apoptotic signaling and decreases mitochondrial function concomitant with decreased cardiac function. These results suggest that increased cardiovascular disease incidence in populations surrounding MTM mines may be associated with increased cardiac cell apoptotic signaling and decreased mitochondrial function.

show abstract

Section: New and Noteworthymentioning

confidence: 99%

Cardiac and mitochondrial dysfunction following acute pulmonary exposure to mountaintop removal mining particulate matter

Nichols

Shepherd

Knuckles

et al. 2015

American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Infant mortality data shows that the infant mortality for each of these 4 states is above the national mean and median [1]. Within the last decade, health studies have emerged to have examined the association of adverse community health metrics with residence in Appalachian counties and the presence or nature of coal mining activity [2][3][4]. These 4 states account for one-third of the U.S. coal production [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Small-for-gestational age prevalence risk factors in central Appalachian states with mountain-top mining

Ferdosi

Lamm

Afari-Dwamena

et al. 2017

Int J Occup Med Environ Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objectives: To identify risk factors for small-for-gestational age (SGA) for counties in central Appalachian states (Kentucky (KY), Tennessee (TN), Virginia (VA), and West Virginia (WV)) with varied coal mining activities. Material and Methods: Live birth certificate files (1990)(1991)(1992)(1993)(1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002) were used for obtaining SGA prevalence rates for mothers based on the coal mining activities of their counties of residence, mountain-top mining (MTM) activities, underground mining activities but no mountain-top mining activity (non-MTM), or having no mining activities (non-mining). Co-variable information, including maternal tobacco use, was also obtained from the live birth certificate. Adjusted odds ratios were obtained using multivariable logistic regression comparing SGA prevalence rates for counties with coal mining activities to those

show abstract

“…self-reported respiratory, cardiovascular, skin, gastrointestinal, muscle, eye, ear, nose, and throat [14]; and an overall poorer health-related quality of life [14][15][16]. Other research through the Appalachian Research Initiative for Environmental Science (ARIES)-funded by the coal industry-has found no elevated mortality for coalfields residents compared to other Appalachian residents [11,17], birth-defects [18], or circulatory hospitalizations [19]. Research financially supported by the National Mining Association found increased mortality rates in coalfields areas associated with "economic and cultural disadvantages" in the region [20].…”

Section: Section 22 Laws Governing Surface Coal Mine Reclamationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[2]; chronic cardiovascular disease [3][4][5]; hypertension [4]; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other respiratory conditions [4,6]; hospitalizations for hypertension, COPD, and general respiratory conditions [7,8]; self-reported cancer rates [9]; cancer mortality [10,11]; lung cancer [12]; chronic kidney disease [4]; angina or chronic heart disease [5]; heart attack [5]; mortality for chronic heart, kidney, and respiratory disease [13]; self-reported respiratory, cardiovascular, skin, gastrointestinal, muscle, eye, ear, nose, and throat [14]; and an overall poorer health-related quality of life [14][15][16]. Other research through the Appalachian Research Initiative for Environmental Science (ARIES)-funded by the coal industry-found no elevated mortality for coalfields residents compared to other Appalachian residents [11,17], birth-defects [18], or circulatory hospitalizations [19]. Research financially supported by the National Mining Association found increased mortality rates in coalfields areas associated with "economic and cultural disadvantages" in the region [20].…”

Section: Chapter 1 Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coal Mine Remediation as a Tool to Improve Disparate Coal Mining Impacts in Appalachian Communities Utilizing a Community Health Assessment Conceptual Model

Surber¹

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The coalfields region of central Appalachia bears the unfortunate hallmark characteristics of low socioeconomic status, poor health outcomes, and some of the lowest life expectancies in the United States, making some residents potentially part of vulnerable health populations. Vulnerability impacts the ability of individuals to respond or recover from stressorsparticularly environmental pollution-not as well as other individuals. Moreover, the economic outlook for the region is grim, given that the international coal mining industry has experienced serious recent downturns, and increased production from the natural gas sector has made coalfired power production domestically less competitive. As a result, many of the larger coal companies are in or have recently been in bankruptcy, leaving coal mining states at risk for large-scale forfeitures and abandoned coal mines. In 2016, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) estimated that coal operators in the bankruptcy process held over 900 mine site permits, leaving sites in various stages of mining. Unremediated coal mines may pose a risk for safety and discharge pollutants into surface waters, potentially impacting water quality. Given that the communities near coal mines may constitute vulnerable health populations, the impacts of pollution stressors pose a serious public health concern. Coal mining states should prioritize the remediation of forfeited and abandoned coal mines due to these concerns. However, serious financial limitations may impact the states' abilities to remediate these sites. Under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA), coal mine operators are required to post full financial assurance that the mine site will be remediated to environmental performance standards. If a coal mine operator abandons a site without fully remediating the environmental impacts, the state becomes responsible for the reclamation. However, due to the ways states administer the bond programs under SMCRA, they may have limited financial and administrative resources to remediate all existing abandoned coal mines, and the possibility of future abandoned sites may strain those resources further. These issues of available remediation resources is compounded by the disparate impacts of coal mining between the counties, as well the watersheds. In West Virginia, disparities exists between the counties for the amount of acres impacted by coal mining, with higher levels of mined acres occurring in counties with the poorest health rankings. In addition, some counties and watersheds are much more impacted by the costs of under-secured reclamation bonding. Counties with the worst health outcome rankings have the greatest amounts of potential risks for under-secured coal mine bonding. As a result, vulnerable health populations may live in areas where the state does not have adequate financial assurance to remediate abandoned coal mines and the watersheds heavily impacted by mining, placing these residents at further risk for long-term environmenta...

show abstract

Comparison of Mortality Disparities in Central Appalachian Coal- and Non—Coal-Mining Counties

Abstract: We found elevated mortality and poverty rates in coal-mining compared with non-coal-mining areas of West Virginia and VA. Future research should examine these findings in more detail at the individual level.

Cited by 18 publications

References 21 publications

Cardiac and mitochondrial dysfunction following acute pulmonary exposure to mountaintop removal mining particulate matter

Cardiac and mitochondrial dysfunction following acute pulmonary exposure to mountaintop removal mining particulate matter

Small-for-gestational age prevalence risk factors in central Appalachian states with mountain-top mining

Coal Mine Remediation as a Tool to Improve Disparate Coal Mining Impacts in Appalachian Communities Utilizing a Community Health Assessment Conceptual Model

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About