Mapping the Morbidity Risk Associated with Coal Mining in Queensland, Australia.

Javier Cortes-Ramirez,Paul Jagals,Peter D Sly,Darren Wraith

doi:10.3390/ijerph19031206

Abstract

The populations in the vicinity of surface coal mining activities have a higher risk of morbidity due to diseases, such as cardiovascular, respiratory and hypertensive diseases, as well as cancer and diabetes mellitus. Despite the large and historical volume of coal production in Queensland, the main Australian coal mining state, there is little research on the association of coal mining exposures with morbidity in non-occupational populations in this region. This study explored the association of coal production (Gross Raw Output—GRO) with hospitalisations due to six disease groups in Queensland using a Bayesian spatial hierarchical analysis and considering the spatial distribution of the Local Government Areas (LGAs). There is a positive association of GRO with hospitalisations due to circulatory diseases (1.022, 99% CI: 1.002–1.043) and respiratory diseases (1.031, 95% CI: 1.001–1.062) for the whole of Queensland. A higher risk of circulatory, respiratory and chronic lower respiratory diseases is found in LGAs in northwest and central Queensland; and a higher risk of hypertensive diseases, diabetes mellitus and lung cancer is found in LGAs in north, west, and north and southeast Queensland, respectively. These findings can be used to support public health strategies to protect communities at risk. Further research is needed to identify the causal links between coal mining and morbidity in non-occupational populations in Queensland.

Highlights

The global demand for energy has determined the growing production and use of coal in the last 60 years with increasing potential for negative health impacts on people in the vicinity of expanding coal mining activities
This study explores the association of coal mining exposures with morbidity in populations in the Queensland Local Government Areas (LGAs)
Whereas we found multiple coal mining LGAs with a higher risk of circulatory and respiratory diseases, the specific-LGAs analysis identified a higher risk of chronic lower respiratory diseases, diabetes mellitus and cancer of the bronchus and lung in coal mining

Summary

Introduction

The global demand for energy has determined the growing production and use of coal in the last 60 years with increasing potential for negative health impacts on people in the vicinity of expanding coal mining activities. Coal mining emissions are associated with health effects in multiple body organ systems due to exposure to coal dust and direct and indirect responses to fine particles [1]. Coal mining activities release particulate matter (e.g., PM10 and PM2.5 ) that can be associated with diseases of the circulatory and respiratory systems [5,6]; these particles include metals that are classified as carcinogens [7,8]. The mix of particles released in coal mining activities can determine diseases in exposed populations because of their ability to reach the smallest sections of the respiratory system and their potential effect on the endothelium and the inflammatory response [11,12]

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion