title: Relations between health indicators and residential proximity to coal mining in West Virginia.
abstract: We used data from a survey of 16493 West Virginians merged with county-level coal production and other covariates to investigate the relations between health indicators and residential proximity to coal mining. Results of hierarchical analyses indicated that high levels of coal production were associated with worse adjusted health status and with higher rates of cardiopulmonary disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, lung disease, and kidney disease. Research is recommended to ascertain the mechanisms, magnitude, and consequences of a community coal-mining exposure effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, West Virginia University, One Medical Center Dr, PO Box 9190, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA. mhendryx@hsc.wvu.edu
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hendryx
authors.forename: Melissa M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ahern
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003032:Coal Mining; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D013689:Telephone; D014903:West Virginia / Q000453:epidemiology