First introduced by
Dennis Kucinich in July of last year, Kentucky Congressman John Yarmuth and New
York Congresswoman Louise Slaughter have reintroduced H.R. 5959, The
Appalachian Community Health Emergency Act, which would mandate a moratorium on
mountaintop removal until we have a greater understanding of the health effects of the
destructive mining practice.
Growing
evidence indicates a link between mountaintop removal and health problems, such
as kidney stones, tooth loss, diarrhea, learning disabilities, and some forms
of cancer.[i]
Other research has found a wide range of birth defects in infants born in
proximity to mountaintop mining.[ii]
It
is heartening to hear this latest news. Appalachians have it rough enough.
Shouldn’t we care about their health and their children before we go lopping
off their mountains for their coal?
[i] Holzman, David C. “Mountaintop Removal
Mining.” Environmental Health Perspectives Vol. 119, Issue 11 11/1/2011 print.
[ii] Ahearn, Melissa M. et at. “The association
between mountaintop mining and birth defects among live births in central
Appalachia, 1996–2003.” Environmental Research Vol. 111 Issue 6. Aug 2011, p 838-846 print.
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