Opencast Coal Mining

As the prevalence of childhood asthma rose over the past few decades, certain environmental exposures as a result of heavy industry have been heavily questioned by consumers and child advocates alike. Heavily publicized concerns about the health impacts of polluting industries, while increasing awareness among consumers, can also cause unnecessary worry if the concerns are not well grounded. Concerns can lead to in-depth research, though the results can be interpreted in a variety of ways, depending on the audience. This tendency can be dangerous, however, as such research has the potential to influence government policy, environmental standards, and health and safety practices, and thus the results may spark much debate.

One such industry is that of opencast coal mining, a method of extracting coal used in the United Kingdom beginning after World War II and continuing into the present. Much of this mining takes place in communities where deep coal mining was previously a way of life. It is important to note, though, the ways in which communities with opencast mining differ from heavily industrialized communities: as opposed to heavily industrialized communities, air quality problems in opencast communities are relatively low; opencast mining is limited to a short and fixed term, while heavy industry tends to be long-term, and improvements to land following opencast operations result in less pollution concerns than what exists in heavily industrialized communities. Citizens living in these communities have many concerns, however, especially ones regarding the respiratory health of their children as a result of the opencast mining in their immediate environment. Yet, a nationally funded epidemiological study with a qualitative parental interview component revealed that there was little evidence to support an association between the prevalence of childhood asthma and other respiratory illness and the child’s residential proximity to opencast coal mines. In qualitative interviews, no parent interviewed reported that their child’s health had been adversely affected by the opencast mine, irrespective of the child’s asthma status.

In these situations, it often takes heavy media attention to a perceived problem in order to round up money to fund a research project. Regardless of the results, such research is important. If an association is found, appropriate steps can be taken to limit negative effects. If no association is found, the public’s mind can be put to rest.

References:

Moffatt S.  Pless-Mulloli T. “It wasn't the plague we expected. Parents' perceptions of the health and environmental impact of opencast coal mining.” Social Science & Medicine.  57(3):437-51, 2003 Aug.

Pless-Mulloli T.  Howel D.  Prince H. “Prevalence of asthma and other respiratory symptoms in children living near and away from opencast coal mining sites.” International Journal of Epidemiology.  30(3):556-63, 2001 Jun.