IS THERE A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MOUNTAINTOP REMOVAL MINING AND LUNG/BRONCHUS CANCER DEATHS IN WEST VIRGINIA AND KENTUCKY?

As part of ongoing studies about the human health effects of energy resources, USGS is conducting a study comparing mountaintop mining removal techniques health impacts to traditional subsurface mining using air, water and soil samples from residential and public areas of the southern coalfields of West Virginia (WV). In an effort to better understand the problem, data for individual counties in WV and Kentucky (KY) from public databases (CDC/NCI State Cancer Profiles 2005-2009) and analysis of variance were used to investigate the relationship between the annual numbers of deaths due to lung and/or bronchus cancer (LBC) per 100,000 people in mountaintop mining removal (MTM) and non-MTM counties. There were significantly more LBC deaths in MTM counties of KY and WV (p<0.001). A significant positive correlation was found between percent acres under open MTM permit and the number of deaths from LBC in WV but not KY. After correction for the influence of smoking the odds ratio for LBC death in a MTM county was 1.3 (95% C.I. 1.28, 1.32) times that of a non-MTM county in both states. Smoking prevalence in WV MTM counties was statistically equal to that in KY Non-MTM counties; however annual LBC deaths/100,000 were significantly higher in WV MTM counties despite similar demographics, possibly suggesting MTM could be a factor in this difference. LBC deaths are only one form of respiratory mortality and mortality rates for other diseases must also be quantified. In WV and KY 20-25% of all deaths are attributable to smoking, however it is unknown if synergism between smoking and exposure to air pollution could significantly increase mortality. Cumulative lifetime risk may increase with the number of years of residency near active MTM sites, and possibly smoking, therefore as the number and size of these sites increases, emissions and numbers of individuals affected are likely to increase.