Here's another as to the shills of the corporations that anything goes and in this case especially the tepub types that fight against a womens choice, the same tepubs being the parrots of the corps using the phony argument as to no climate change happening and if any it isn't human caused by using fossil fuels, stopping advanced innovation as they have now for over some forty years!
Study notes spike in birth defects near mountaintop mining
Think about that as well as what we already know, especially the damage to the beauty of those mountains, Gods Country, where done!
Jun 22, 2011 - Birth defects are more likely to occur in Appalachian counties with mountaintop removal coal mining — including Eastern Kentucky — than in other counties in the region, according to a new study.
The study, published last month in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Research, suggests that birth defects could result from air and water pollution created by mountaintop removal, including mercury, lead and arsenic, which have been shown to pose risks to fetal development.
The study stops short of blaming mountaintop removal for birth defects. But its authors said they tried to account for other possible causes, such as higher rates of smoking, less education and poorer prenatal care among expectant mothers in mining counties. The common factor seemed to be proximity to the blasting of mountains to remove coal, they said. continued
Just heard a quick report on our local news, and the other point the young woman anchor gave was it's also being thought to be a main pollution creator, gee ya think sweetie!!
Did a quick search and the above is one of the first articles listed. Going back to see what else I can find like the report itself.
Study: birth defect rates higher in MTR areas
The study was done by Melissa Ahern at Washington State University, Dr. Michael Hendryx and other researchers at West Virginia University. "This study extends previous research on low birth weight and on adult morbidity and mortality in coal mining areas, and offers one of the first indications that health problems are disproportionately concentrated specifically in (mountaintop mining) areas. It's significant not only to people who live in coalfields but to policy makers as well." I called Bill Bissett of the Kentucky Coal Association to get his take. He was not immediately available for comment, but sent a note that said: "I would want to review the study and talk with some health professionals about this new report. [1] BEREA, Ky., June 21, 2011 PRNewswire-USNewswire -- A new study conducted by Dr. Melissa Ahern at Washington State University, Dr. Michael Hendryx and others at WV University finds significantly higher rates of birth defects in mountaintop removal coal mining (MTM) areas. [2] {continued}
The Study:
The association between mountaintop mining and birth defects among live births in central Appalachia, 1996–2003
Abstract
Birth defects are examined in mountaintop coal mining areas compared to other coal mining areas and non-mining areas of central Appalachia. The study hypothesis is that higher birth-defect rates are present in mountaintop mining areas. National Center for Health Statistics natality files were used to analyze 1996–2003 live births in four Central Appalachian states (N=1,889,071). Poisson regression models that control for covariates compare birth defect prevalence rates associated with maternal residence in county mining type: mountaintop mining areas, other mining areas, or non-mining areas. The prevalence rate ratio (PRR) for any birth defect was significantly higher in mountaintop mining areas compared to non-mining areas (PRR=1.26, 95% CI=1.21, 1.32), after controlling for covariates. Rates were significantly higher in mountaintop mining areas for six of seven types of defects: circulatory/respiratory, central nervous system, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, urogenital, and ‘other’. There was evidence that mountaintop mining effects became more pronounced in the latter years (2000–2003) versus earlier years (1996–1999.) Spatial correlation between mountaintop mining and birth defects was also present, suggesting effects of mountaintop mining in a focal county on birth defects in neighboring counties. Elevated birth defect rates are partly a function of socioeconomic disadvantage, but remain elevated after controlling for those risks. Both socioeconomic and environmental influences in mountaintop mining areas may be contributing factors. {continued}