Impact of prolonged exposure to pollutants from coal mining

Source– This post on the Impact of prolonged exposure to pollutants from coal mining has been created based on the article “Prolonged exposure to coal mining causes respiratory, skin diseases in workers: study” published in “The Hindu” on 27 June 2024.

Why in the news?

Findings of the study

1. Prolonged exposure to pollutants from coal mining has led to widespread respiratory and skin diseases among mine workers and residents in six districts.

2. The affected districts are Koriya and Raigarh (Chhattisgarh), Dhanbad and Ramgarh (Jharkhand), and Angul and Jajpur (Odisha).

3. 65% of surveyed participants reported health issues like chronic bronchitis, asthma, eczema, dermatitis, and fungal infections.

4. Medical Expenses:

i) Monthly medical bills per household ranged from ₹300 to ₹1,000.

ii) Average annual hospitalization expenses in Dhanbad were the highest at ₹28,461 per household.

5. Vulnerability:

i) Residents closer to coal mines are more vulnerable to health issues.

ii) Dhanbad and Ramgarh reported higher incidences of lung and skin diseases due to more people living near mines.

6. Economic Impact and Transition: The study focused on the ‘just transition‘ from coal mining jobs. Transitioning away from coal is expected to cause significant job losses and economic downturns in coal-dependent regions.

7. Social and economic disparities were noted, with varying income levels and irregular wage patterns. Dhanbad and Koriya rely solely on coal production, reported lower incomes compared to diversified industrial districts like Angul.

8. Recent trends show a shift, with renewable energy accounting for 71.5% of new power generation capacity added in the first quarter of the year, while coal’s share dropped below 50% for the first time since the 1960s.

UPSC Syllabus: Indian Economy