Environmental injustice and air pollution in coal affected communities, Hunter Valley, Australia.
The authors describe environmental injustice from air pollution in the Upper Hunter, Australia, and analyse the inaction of state authorities in addressing residents' health concerns. Obstacles blocking a public-requested health study and air monitoring include: the interdependence of state government and corporations in reaping the economic benefits of coal production; lack of political will, regulatory inertia and procedural injustice; and study design and measurement issues. We analyse mining- and coal-related air pollution in a contested socio-political arena, where residents, civil society and local government groups struggle with corporations and state government over the burden of imposed health risk caused by air pollution.
Higginbotham
Nick
N
Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Health, The University of Newcastle, Australia. Nick.Higginbotham@newcastle.edu.au
Freeman
Sonia
S
Connor
Linda
L
Albrecht
Glenn
G
D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003032:Coal Mining; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003254:Consumer Advocacy; D004782:Environmental Health; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D009517:New South Wales; D011057:Politics; D012935:Social Justice; D013219:State Government