Coal Mining Toll on Health: Dhanbad and Hazaribagh Coalfields Unveiled (Paperback)

The present study deals with the impact of coal mining on human health and the direct and indirect health cost burden on households living in the vicinity of coal mining areas. Coal mining has a well-established detrimental effect on the health of coal miners and the inhabitants living near coal mines. The objective of this research work is to first, identify the health impacts of coal mining on the inhabitants near coal mines. Second, to evaluate whether the health cost in the vicinity of coal mines is more than the non-mining areas. Third, does the health cost affect the poor section more than the higher section? 4th, does the poor health due to coal mining affect the working efficiency of the inhabitants and their wage income? Last, does the continuous poor health of the people in mining areas lead to premature deaths or decreased life expectancy? The Cost of Illness (COI) technique has been used to evaluate the direct and indirect cost of health treatment of the people living near the coal mine areas. T From these four blocks of Dhanbad and Hazaribagh, a total of 233 households have been surveyed, of which 165 households were from mining areas and 68 were from non-mining areas. mining is being considered a serious problem all over the world. Negligence of the externalities Results obtained from the analysis of surveyed schedules showed that in mining areas the frequency and severity of all the coal mine-related diseases like respiratory problems asthma, bronchitis, pneumoconiosis, and other health issues like lung problems, heart disease, gastrointestinal, peptic ulcer and other eye problems like cataract and weak vision are more common than in the non-mining areas. It was also found that the average expenses on all aspects of treatment like doctor’s fees, lab test charges, and expenses on medicine, etc. were higher in mining areas as compared to non-mining areas. When the treatment expenses were compared in terms of income proportion, it was found that the lower income group is more effective with these diseases and bound to expend more of their income on health treatment as compared to the higher income group. The analysis of data also signifies the effect of poor health on working days. It was found that the average days of leaves taken by the household heads for their or their family’s treatment is more in mining areas compared to non-mining areas, which affects their monthly earnings. The life expectancy in mining areas was also found high in the non-mining area as compared to mining areas, the data collected from blocks about life expectancy rates of the surveyed areas shows. The adverse effect of coal mining can cost India dearly in the long term. So it is important for the Indian govt. to work on alternatives to coal more effectively and find measures to reduce air pollution or the hazardous effects of coal mining.