Michael Hendryx1. 1. Department of Health Policy, Management and Leadership, School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA. mhendryx@hsc.wvu.edu
Abstract
PURPOSE: This study investigates health disparities for adults residing in a mountaintop coal mining area of Appalachian Kentucky. Mountaintop mining areas are characterized by severe economic disadvantage and by mining-related environmental hazards. METHODS: A community-based participatory research study was implemented to collect information from residents on health conditions and symptoms for themselves and other household members in a rural mountaintop mining area compared to a rural nonmining area of eastern Kentucky. A door-to-door health interview collected data from 952 adults. Data were analyzed using prevalence rate ratio models. FINDINGS: Adjusting for covariates, significantly poorer health conditions were observed in the mountaintop mining community on: self-rated health status, illness symptoms across multiple organ systems, lifetime and current asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and hypertension. Respondents in mountaintop mining communities were also significantly more likely to report that household members had experienced serious illness, or had died from cancer in the past 5 years. Significant differences were not observed for self-reported cancer, angina, or stroke, although differences in cardiovascular symptoms and household cancer were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to reduce longstanding health problems in Appalachia must focus on mountaintop mining portions of the region, and should seek to eliminate socioeconomic and environmental disparities.
PURPOSE: This study investigates health disparities for adults residing in a mountaintop coal mining area of Appalachian Kentucky. Mountaintop mining areas are characterized by severe economic disadvantage and by mining-related environmental hazards. METHODS: A community-based participatory research study was implemented to collect information from residents on health conditions and symptoms for themselves and other household members in a rural mountaintop mining area compared to a rural nonmining area of eastern Kentucky. A door-to-door health interview collected data from 952 adults. Data were analyzed using prevalence rate ratio models. FINDINGS: Adjusting for covariates, significantly poorer health conditions were observed in the mountaintop mining community on: self-rated health status, illness symptoms across multiple organ systems, lifetime and current asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and hypertension. Respondents in mountaintop mining communities were also significantly more likely to report that household members had experienced serious illness, or had died from cancer in the past 5 years. Significant differences were not observed for self-reported cancer, angina, or stroke, although differences in cardiovascular symptoms and household cancer were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to reduce longstanding health problems in Appalachia must focus on mountaintop mining portions of the region, and should seek to eliminate socioeconomic and environmental disparities.
Authors: Abee L Boyles; Robyn B Blain; Johanna R Rochester; Raghavendhran Avanasi; Susan B Goldhaber; Sofie McComb; Stephanie D Holmgren; Scott A Masten; Kristina A Thayer Journal: Environ Int Date: 2017-07-21 Impact factor: 9.621
Authors: Laura Kurth; Allan Kolker; Mark Engle; Nicholas Geboy; Michael Hendryx; William Orem; Michael McCawley; Lynn Crosby; Calin Tatu; Matthew Varonka; Christina DeVera Journal: Environ Geochem Health Date: 2014-12-24 Impact factor: 4.609