https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/780611

Mountaintop Removal Mining: Impacts on Health in the Surrounding Community

Landscape of mining mountain tops

Topic Overview

Status: Evaluation completed

Background Information

Mountaintop removal mining is the main method for extracting coal in the approximately 200 surface mines actively producing in the Central Appalachia region (KY, TN, WV, and VA). This mining method blasts off the top layer of a mountain to expose the underlying coal seam resulting in dust and fly-rock and necessitating disposal of the 'overburden' into spoil piles and of slurry into underground stores. Human health impacts in the communities surrounding these mines may arise from drinking contaminated groundwater, contact with contaminated streams, and inhalation of airborne chemicals and dust.

In January 2015, NTP received a nomination to review the potential health effects of mountaintop removal mining. In response, NTP conducted a systematic review of published studies of mountaintop removal mining and community health, occupational studies of mountaintop removal mining, and any available animal and in vitro experimental studies to investigate the effects of exposures to mountaintop removal mining-related mixtures. The systematic review identified inconsistent results across a broad range of diverse health effects, with critical limitations in the study design of observational studies in communities impacted by mountaintop removal mining. Few experimental animal studies were identified, but the findings in these model organisms support the plausibility of adverse health outcomes. Studies measuring exposures from mountaintop removal mining found several individual contaminants previously associated with adverse health impacts, such as particulate matter in air.

Documents

Documents for Mountaintop Removal Mining
Date Document
Oct 07, 2015 Federal Register notice requesting information on nominated substances
Nov 19, 2015 NTP Evaluation Concept – Draft
Dec 02, 2015 Meeting Presentation: Literature-Based Analysis of Mountaintop Removal Mining - Impacts on Health in the Surrounding Community
Jul 27, 2016 NTP Protocol – Revised
Nov 16, 2016 Included and Excluded Studies
Jul 21, 2017 NTP Systematic Review
Preferred Citation: Boyles AL, Blain RB, Rochester JR, Avanasi R, Goldhaber SB, McComb S, Holmgren SD, Masten SA, Thayer KA. (2017) Systematic review of community health impacts of mountaintop removal mining. Environ Int. 107: 163-172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2017.07.002 

Meetings & Events

Listing of related events
Date Event Event Type Materials
Dec 01, 2015

NTP Board of Scientific Counselors Meeting

Board of Scientific Counselors

  • Agenda
  • Meeting Materials

    NTP Board of Scientific Counselors Meeting Meeting Materials
    December 1-2, 2015

    Supplemental materials for some events, meetings, and workshops prior to 2020 have been archived. These archived materials frequently include presentations, background materials, and public comments. Email us or use our contact form to request a list or copy of archived materials.

     

  • Minutes

Supplemental materials for some events, meetings, and workshops prior to 2020 have been archived. These archived materials frequently include presentations, background materials, and public comments. Email us or use our contact form to request a list or copy of archived materials.


Note on Accessibility: Persons with disabilities or using assistive technology may find some documents are not fully accessible. For assistance, email us or use our contact form and identify the documents/pages for which access is required. We will assist you in accessing the content of these files. NIEHS has helpful information on accessibility.