See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/317091374

Environmental Impact of Coal Mining: A Discerning Review

Article · January 2012

CITATIONS READS
2 2,646

3 authors:

Haraprasad Mohapatra Shreerup Goswami

Govt. College, Sundargarh, Odisha Utkal University
12 PUBLICATIONS 126 CITATIONS 196 PUBLICATIONS 1,745 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Madhumita Das
Utkal University
42 PUBLICATIONS 186 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Assessment of ground water quality View project

Environmental impact of coal mining around major parts of Ib River coalfield View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Shreerup Goswami on 24 May 2017.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 VISTAS IN GEOLOGICAL RESEARCH
U.U. Spl. Publ. in Geology (11) January 2012 pp.1-10

Environmental Impact of Coal Mining: A Discerning Review

HARAPRASAD MOHAPATRA1, SHREERUP GOSWAMI2*and MADHUMITA DAS

1
Kaptipada College, Kaptipada, Mayurbhanj-757040, Orissa,
2
Department of Geology, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack-753003, Orissa,
3
Department of Geology, Utkal University, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar-751004, Orissa
*
goswamishreerup@gmail.com

Abstract: Coal is required to meet the energy need of the country. Coal mining is the biggest challenge
because of its contribution to local (including indoor), regional and global pollution. The paper enumerates
the fact and fallacies of various health and environmental impacts of coal mining such as its impact on
landform, soil, water regime, atmosphere, flora and fauna and human health. A number of strategies are
recommended for economically viable and ecofriendly mining.

Keywords: Coal, Mining, Environment

INTRODUCTION

Extensive coal mining is carried out throughout India to meet the energy need of the country. The major
environmental challenges facing by the coal industries are related to both coal mining and the use of coal. In
recent times, policy makers as well as environmentalists have questioned the viability of coal as a sustainable
energy source in the context of green house effect and global climate change.
In a highly interbanded Gondwana seam, the coal records 25 to 30 percent of ash. It may increase to as
high as 50 to 60 percent when all the bands and partings occurring within the coal seam are included. Use of such
inferior grade of coal causes serious ecological problems.
The following environmental impacts due to coal mining are discussed in this paper.
1. Impact of coal mining on landform
2. Impact of coal mining on soil
3. Impact of coal mining on water regime
4. Impact of coal mining on atmosphere
5. Impact of coal mining on flora and fauna
6. Impact of noise pollution
7. Impact of coal mining on human health

DISCUSSION

Impact of Coal Mining on Landform

The opencast coal mining has potential impact on landform. It causes large scale land subsidence due to
extensive excavation, removal of top soil, dumping of solid waste, cutting of roads and creation of derelict land.
Opencast mining eliminates the surface vegetation and can permanently change the topography. Some
of the surrounding areas are unnecessarily defaced due to dumping of overburden and construction of the mine

11/2012 © Utkal University

2 HARAPRASAD MOHAPATRA, SHREERUP GOSWAMI AND MADHUMITA DAS

service plants, roads, offices and residential buildings. On an average of 4 ha of land is directly damaged by the
excavation to produce 1 MT of coal by opencast mining and another 4 ha may be occupied by overburden dump
(Singh and Singh, 2004). The vegetation covers on such land are destroyed. A lot of coal mining projects are
established on the forest areas causing massive deforestation. The forest cover in the country has greatly
dwindled since independence. In addition, the spreading of toxic overburden and dirt, destroy the vegetation
(Singh et al., 2002). Massive deforestation drastically changes the climatic condition like rainfall, temperature,
and humidity etc. These may lead to the extinction of wild species of animals and birds living in the coal mining
areas.
A large number of anthropogenic landforms have been developed due to coal mining and allied
industrial activities. A series of quarries pits have been formed due to opencast coal mining. Dereliction of
natural landforms is also caused by subsidence due to underground mining. The heaps of slug and coal ash
dumps are also observed in these areas. The small rivers and nalas have been partially blocked to facilitate the
exploitation of coal in many parts of India. Large area of fertile land has been put to mining and other industrial
uses that are converted into barren land due to subsidence. Most of the damaged lands on flow plains are
irrecoverable and transformation to better land use will be challenging tasks in many of the Indian coal mining
belts.
Stable dumps with abandoned quarries
The spoil dumps are rounded, elliptical, linear or rectangular. The depth of the quarries usually ranges
between 10 m to 30 m. The spoil dumps are found along the length of the quarries that are composed of
sandstones and sandy soil materials. Generally, there is a long chain of abandoned quarries and dumps all along
the strike of coal mining belt. Most of the depressions of abandoned quarries are partly or fully water logged.
The water bodies act as ponds and serve as a source of water for the surrounding mining villages.
Unstable spoil dumps with active quarries
The spoil dumps around the opencast projects are made up of loose unconsolidated rock boulders and
sand. The dumps vary in height from 10 m to 15 m. Their shapes, sizes and locations change frequently with the
progress of mining operations. The slopes of the dump surface are generally very steep and unstable. A number
of gullies have often been formed on the adjacent nala (drain) course. Reclamation of excavated land is not
generally worked out as per the original sequence. Thus, the reclaimed lands are unsuitable for cultivation.
Land subsidence
Land subsidence is well known due to underground mining. This causes substantial damage to life and
property by affecting the buildings and the surface drainage pattern. Sometimes even highways, bridge, water
and gas lines may be sheared, twisted and broken due to subsidence. The methods of operation adopted in case
of underground mining are broad and pillar. The most common degradation of landscape related to such type of
mining is land subsidence. Due to extraction of coal by depillaring, subsidence of land has taken place in many
places forming goafs (void spaces) in sub-surfaces. In all these places small rounded to sub-rounded “caves in”
have been formed with the formation of tensional cracks. Agricultural uses of these lands are not possible as the
cracks in the subsided land do not permit to retain the surface water. With time, these goafs are filled with water
and supports the overlying land surface. In the peak of summer season with the excessive withdrawal of ground
water in such areas for irrigation, a vacuum is created in the underground leading to further collapse of roof
creating more caves.
Impact on drainage system
At many places of the coal mines, the spoil dumps are located adjacent to the natural drainage channels.
Rills and gullies are found to have been formed on such dumps along which debris flow into the nalas causing

11/2012 © Utkal University

 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF COAL MINING 3
rapid siltation along the nala course. Also nala and small river courses at some places have been diverted by the
open cast mining activity (Singh and Singh, 2004).
Impact of coal mining on soil
Usually, surface mining methods produce large excavation. The resulting overburden and mineral
wastes spread over in large areas making them unstable. All surface mining methods produce dramatic changes
in the landscape due to extensive excavation. In all the surface mining methods, the overburden has to be
excavated in order to reach the coal bed. The amount of overburden in most of the cases is substantial as
compared to the volume of coal. Huge voids are thus created as a result of surface mining.
If we take an average stripping ratio of 5:1 in respect of coal deposit planned to be worked by opencast
methods, when the coal production goes up to 230 MT, 1150 million cubic meters of overburden will have to be
handled every year from the coal mines only. This will lead to serious problems in disposal of solid waste and
reclamation of the mining area (Aswathanarayana, 2003). The opencast mining may create steep slopes along the
high wall which may lead to rapid erosion and sometimes it may cause land slides as in the Himalayan and other
technically active regions (Singh and Singh, 2004). In flat areas, land degradation may result in soil erosion
leading to siltation and loss of valuable fertile soil.
Fine dust particles around coal mining have an adverse impact over a large area. Sometimes these dust
particles may be enriched with toxic trace materials including arsenic, cadmium, lead, zinc, chromium, magnesium
and their compounds. Such type of dust, when deposited on land, harms the soil quality and its agricultural
production, and health of grazing animals is also affected.
The mining authority in general is reluctant to utilize the overburden materials for reclamation for
economic reasons. However, the practice of reclamation using overburden should be more intense in future.
Fly ash is a waste residue resulting from the combustion of pulverized coal in thermal power stations.
Disposal of fly ash has been a long standing problem for its huge quantity and abrasive nature leading to the
environmental problem of the land. However, fly ash in agriculture field acts as a limiting material to neutralize the
soil acidity and increases the water availability to the plants (Adriano et al., 1980; Maiti et al., 1990).
Impact of coal mining on water regime
Coal mining and its associated activities not only use a lot of water but also affect the hydrological
regime and the water quality of the area. Water flowing in many streams around coal mining belts are dwindled
and some perennial streams have turned into seasonal streams and others have receded. The water seeping from
the mines and collected into the mine sump is partly used by the mines, whereas the excess amount is discharged
into surface drainage system. The water used in the mines for spraying on haul roads, conveyors, at loading and
unloading points, bunkers etc. are lost by evaporation. A deep mine having longer haul roads requires more
spraying water. The water used for green belts and plantation areas are also lost by evaporation and
transpiration. Over exploitation of ground water resources and improper disposal of waste water lower the
water table in the coal mining belt (Elanog et al., 1992). Waste rocks and overburden cause siltation in nearby
streams and disastrous floods while active and abandoned mines pollute surface and ground water with acid
mine drainage (Unni and Fole, 1999). Sometimes the surface water is highly acidic, which on discharge to
agricultural land affect badly. Acid water results severe water pollution in and around the coal mining areas.
Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) refers to distinctive types of waste bodies that originates from the weathering and
leaching of sulphide minerals present in coal and associated strata. Environmental effects of AMD include
contamination of drinking water and disrupted growth and reproduction of aquatic plants and animals. Water
pollution due to AMD causes the killing of fish and loss of other aquatic lives and corrosion of mining
equipments and structures such as bridges and concrete materials (Singh, 1999; Singh, 2005). AMD is the most
persistent pollution problem in the mines of North-Eastern Coalfield in India. Generally, water quality

11/2012 © Utkal University

4 HARAPRASAD MOHAPATRA, SHREERUP GOSWAMI AND MADHUMITA DAS

characteristics of acid mine water reflects high acidic and high hardness along with high iron and sulphate
contents (Gray, 2005). Various toxic trace/heavy metals become soluble in acidic water and their concentration
levels depend upon their availability in the source material. AMD cripples the economy due to compliance of
stringent environmental standards and involves huge cost burden in its management.
Mining water also contains high level of suspended solid particles, which is harmful for human, animals
and agricultural lands. Mining water may also contain high percentage of iron, nitrate, lead, mercury and
compounds of sulphate. Water from overburden dump and mine run off affect the receiving water bodies.
The major water pollution in mining areas occurs due to erosion of mining benches, overburden and
rejected dumps. Due to deforestation, the soil particles (including blasted materials, overburden and mine
bleaches) are easily carried away during heavy rains. Many chemicals and leachates also enter the water streams
in dissolved state. These sediments carrying effluents are responsible for siltation of agricultural field and
choking of streams and rivulets on the down streams. Surface and ground water pollutions are common features
of mining and other associated activities. Run off from dumps and exposed mine surface carries fine sediments
in suspension which are deposited on down stream valleys and agricultural fields.
Due to coal mining a large quantity of the toxic elements such as Pb, Hg, Se, As etc. are added to the
aquatic environment surrounding the mines. The heavy metals associated with coal enter to the different
environment of the mining site after the coal is mined out.
Impact of coal mining on atmosphere
Air pollution in coal mines is mainly due to the fugitive emission of particulate matters and gasses
including methane (CH4), sulphur dioxide (SO2), oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO). The
major dust producing operations are drilling, blasting, loading, transporting and crushing. In other words, the
sources of dust in coal mining areas are due to drilling and blasting operations, shovel loading and unloading,
drag line operations, coal crushing, coal handling plants, coal transportation corridor, overburden dumps, mine
fire etc. The intensity of dust pollution depends up on the vehicle speed, traffic, weight and pay load of dumpers
and trucks, types of materials transported, weather conditions and the condition of haul roads (Singh and Puri,
2004).
Unlike underground mining, opencast mining creates air pollution problem not only within the mining
premises but also in surrounding residential areas. Generally, the overburdens are dried up during summer as a
result the dusts are carried up by the high winds over long distances causing air pollution at far off places. About
90% of all air pollution problems are caused by the carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen
oxide (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx), volatile organic compounds (mostly hydrocarbons) and suspended
particulate matters.
Generally, carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are the primary pollutants that are
formed when any carbon containing substances such as coal are burnt completely (C + O2 → CO2). The
common green house gas, CO2 is responsible for increasing the atmospheric temperature. Thus, combustion of
coal is linked to global warming through green house effect.
Another primary pollutant, sulphur dioxide (SO2) is emitted into the air by burning of coal, which
contains sulphur impurities (S + O2 → SO2) (Hackney et al., 1978). The secondary air pollutants are harmful
chemicals, which are formed due to reaction between two or more air components. The very good example is
sulphur trioxide (SO3), which is formed by the reactions between sulphur dioxide and Oxygen (O2) in the
atmosphere (2SO2 + O2 → 2SO3). The sulphur trioxide then reacts with water vapours in the air to form droplets
of sulphuric acids (SO3 + H2O → H2SO4). Besides sulphur dioxide (SO2), the combustion of coal produces
gaseous emission of nitrogen oxide (NOx), which is responsible for the production of acid rain and ground level
of ozone. Acid rain occurs when SO2 and NOx gases react in the atmosphere with water, oxygen and other
chemicals to form the different acidic compounds.

11/2012 © Utkal University

 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF COAL MINING 5
` 2SO2 + 2H2O → 2H2SO4 (sulphuric acid)
2NO2 + 2H2O → 2HNO3 (nitric acid)
2NO + H2O → HNO2 (nitrous acid)
Ground level ozone (O3) is mainly responsible for smog that forms a brown haze over the coal mining
belts. Ground level ozone is formed when NOx gases react with other chemicals in the atmosphere and is
enhanced by strong sunlight. Emission of SO2 and NOx cause trans-boundary air pollution because the
environmental impacts due to production of these gases are not restricted by geographical boundaries.
Impact of coal mining on flora and fauna
The obnoxious coal mine effluents damage the flora and fauna of the ecosystem. Many attempts have
been made to study the effect of mine effluents on the productivity and occurrence of fish in the country. A
significant impact of coal mining effluents on the primary productivity and fish farming has also been reported
(Ghosh, 1993). The physico-chemical analysis of coal mine effluents clearly revealed that many parameters like
BOD, COD are remarkably higher. The combined effects of these parameters make the effluent toxic which
cause fatal effect for life supporting systems. The absence of dissolved oxygen in the effluent does not have life
supporting capacity. Observations indicate that the rate of primary production and community respiration vary
with seasonal variations. Its value is maximum during summer and minimum during winter as no inflow of coal
mine effluents occurs during summer.
Some form of air pollutions such as sulphur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and
peroxy acetyl nitrate (PAN) directly damage the leaves of crop plants and trees. Chronic exposure of leaves and
needles to air pollutants can break down the waxy coating that helps to prevent excessive water loss and damage
from pests, drought and frost. Such exposure can also inhibit photosynthesis and plant growth, reduces nutrient
uptake and causes leaves and needles to turn yellow or brown and finally fall off (Gupta et al., 2006).
In addition, acid deposition can leach vital plant nutrients such as calcium from soil and kill essential
micro-organisms. It also releases aluminum ions into soil water where they damage fine root filaments and root
hairs and reduces the uptake capacity of water and nutrients from the soil. Prolonged exposure to high levels of
pollutants can kill all trees and vegetation in the mining areas (Gupta et al., 2006).
Fine dust particles comprising silica, arsenic, cadmium, lead, zinc, chromium, magnesium and their
compounds are generally deposited on pasture and agricultural land in and around coal mines. It harms agricultural
production and health of grazing animals is also affected.
Impact of noise pollution
Noise pollution is the second biggest occupational hazard in Indian coal mining industries. The main
sources of noise generation in mining activity are heavy earth moving machineries (HEMM) and crushing units
where concerned operator is exposed to noise. Operation of high capacity pneumatic drills, blasting of hundreds of
tonnes of explosive are identified as noise prone activities. Pit crushing system with mobile crusher and large
capacity materials handling plants are being installed to facilitate rapid mining. All these activities are major
sources of noise and vibrations in and around the mining complexes.
Prolonged noise exposure threats auditory and non-auditory effects leading to noise induced hearing loss.
Headache, bad temper, hearing problem, loss of concentration, problem in conversation are some of the
significant effects manifested by such noise pollution. Repeated exposure of high noise level will have serious
hearing problems. Brief exposure to excessive noise produces a temporary loss in hearing, while continuous
exposure to loud noises causes a gradual loss of hearing. Impact and Impulsive noise (striking metal with a
hammer and blasting of explosive) might rupture ear drum (i.e. sound wave can not pass to the inner ear). This is
technically called conductive loss. Noise can disturb the working activities, rest, sleep and communication. It can
impair our hearing and evoke other psychological and possibly pathological reactions. Besides, the fauna in the

11/2012 © Utkal University

6 HARAPRASAD MOHAPATRA, SHREERUP GOSWAMI AND MADHUMITA DAS

surrounding areas is also affected by noise. It has been believed that wild life is more sensitive to noise and vibrations
than the human beings (Mathur, 2005).
Observations prevails that noise has an adverse effect on the blood vessels. It acts as a vasoconstrictor in
the peripheral blood vessels in the toes, fingers, abdominal organs. As a result, normal blood supply to these
organs is hindered. The blood vessels gradually shrink, while adrenaline hormone is secreted due to stress for
noise. It has been observed that the blood vessels which supplied to brain dilate in presence of noise causing
headache. Another investigation has shown that noise can also induce heart attack. Due to prolonged influence of
noise on capillaries, the red blood cells are aggregated within them and the blood vessels contracts in spasm. Thus,
it will actually cause the blood to thicken and lead to heart attack (Sagar et al., 2002).
In India, proper occupational hygiene practices are generally ignored in mining areas. Personal
protective equipments (PPE) for workers are treated as luxuries rather than necessities and are not sufficiently
provided.
Impact of coal mining on human health
There is an intimate relationship between mineworkers and inhabitants of surroundings and the potential
exposure to toxic substances, pollutants and wastes. The exploitation of coal influences different environmental
domains (land, air, water, socio-economic and cultural environment) of the exploited areas. In addition, coal
mining greatly influences the health and sanitation condition of the area creating occupational health hazards.
Higher levels of suspended particulate matters increase the respiratory diseases such as chronic bronchitis,
asthma, tuberculosis and ultimately heart disorders around the coal mining areas. Infants (whose respiratory system
is not fully developed) are very much sensitive to the air pollutants. People are frequently susceptible to colds or
chronic nasal congestion and breathe through the mouth (Lapp and Castranova, 1993). Coal miners exposed to
high level of SPM (Suspended Particulate Matter) can eventually develop such disorders. These diseases scar the
respiratory tissues and develop black lung due to prolonged inhalation of coal dust (Castranova et al., 2002; Schins
et al., 1997, Soutar et al.,1993).
Coal workers' pneumoconiosis (black lung disease), is caused by long exposure to coal dust. Inhaled
coal dust progressively builds up in the lungs and is unable to be removed by the body; that leads to
inflammation, fibrosis, and in the worst case, necrosis. Prolonged exposure to large amounts of coal dust can
result in more serious forms of the disease (chronic bronchitis). Coal dust is not as fibrogenic as is silica dust.
Coal dust that enters the lungs can neither be destroyed nor removed by the body. The particles are engulfed by
resident alveolar or interstitial macrophages and remain in the lungs, residing in the connective tissue or
pulmonary lymph nodes. Coal dust provides a sufficient stimulus for the macrophage to release various
products, including enzymes, cytokines, oxygen radicals, and fibroblast growth factors. In serious cases, the
lung may grossly appear black. These aggregations can cause inflammation and fibrosis, as well as the
formation of nodular lesions within the lungs. The centres of dense lesions may become necrotic due to
ischemia, leading to large cavities within the lung (Castranova, 2000; Castranova and Vallyathan, 2000; Lapp and
Castranova, 1993). It has some deleterious effects upon the immune system of the body. The rheumatic disease as
well as chronic kidney disease also higher than average incidence in individuals exposed to coal and silica dust
(Rice et al., 2001; Saiyed, 1999). Coal dust penetrates the body tissue and remains in lungs, lung lining and
abdominal cavity (Seixas et al., 1993). Victims usually experience coughing and shortness of breath. They also
suffer from pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, emphysema or lung cancer (Oxman et al., 1993; Attfield and Seixas,
1995; Coggon and Taylor, 1998). This has led British Government to classily chronic bronchitis and emphysema
in coal miners as an occupational disease (Attfield and Hodous, 1992). The evidence of impairment of lung
function due to exposure to coal mine dusts with increasing mortality has been observed (Kuempel et al., 2001a,
2001b; Coggon et al., 1995).

11/2012 © Utkal University

 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF COAL MINING 7
Studies based on post mortem examination of lungs suggested that coal mine dust can cause
centrilobular emphysema, especially if silicosis is present (Leigh et al., 1994; Nadif et al., 1998; Henneberger
and Attfield, 1996). Experimental evidence reveals that inhalation of dust from coal mines causes release of
inflammatory mediators by neutrophils (Porter et al., 2002).
Water contaminated with coal mine wastes may contain selenium and arsenic (Zheng et al., 1992). The
selenium concentration in drinking water should be less than 10µg/l. Its toxicity causes hair and nail loss,
disorders of the nervous system, skin lesion and paralysis (Fordyce, 2005). Arsenic may occur in coal mine run
off as a result of mineral dissolution and industrial discharges. Severe poisoning can arise from the ingestion of
as little as 100µg arsenic (Chen et al., 1995). Chronic effects can appear from its accumulation in the body at
low intake levels. Arsenic can be also released through coal combustion, which caused severe health problems in
China and Slovakia (Zheng and Long, 1984). It enters into the body via ingestion, inhalation, dermal contact etc.
Drinking water contaminated with arsenic is a major public health problem. General health effects associated with
arsenic exposure include cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases, developmental anomalies, neurologic
and neurobehavioural disorders, diabetes, hearing loss, portal fibrosis, hematologic disorders (anemia, leukopenia
and eosinophilia) and cancers (Basu et al., 2005). Significantly higher standardized mortality rates and cumulative
mortality rates for cancers of the skin, lung, liver, urinary bladder, kidney and colon occur in many areas polluted
with arsenic (Orem et al., 1999; Centeno et al., 2002a and 2002b; Tchounwou et al., 2003).
The health problems caused by fluorine, volatilized during domestic coal use are far more extensive
than those caused by arsenic (Zheng and Huang, 1989). Typical symptoms of fluorosis include mottling of tooth
enamel (dental fluorosis) and various forms of skeletal fluorosis including osteosclerosis, limited movement of
the joints and outward manifestations such as knock-knees, bow legs and spinal curvature. The fluoride ion (F-)
stimulates bone formation and also helps in dental mottling at doses of at least 0.7mg/l in drinking water.
However, excess fluoride (>1mg/l) exposure can cause fluorosis of the enamel (mottling of the teeth) and bone
(skeletal fluorosis) (Edmunds and Smedley, 2005). The fluorosis disease is derived from foods dried over coal
burning stoves. Adsorption of fluorine by bread puffing (drying) over un-vented ovens burning high (>200ppm)
fluorine coal is the probable cause of the extensive dental and skeletal fluorosis in southwest China (Zheng and
Huang, 1989). The problem is compounded by the use of clay as a binder for making coal briquettes. The clay used
is a high fluorine residue formed by intense leaching of a limestone substrate (Finkelman et al., 1999).
There is a considerable concern about health effects of mercury and the proportion of anthropogenic
mercury in the environment (Zheng et al., 1992). To date, there is no direct evidence of health problems caused
by mercury released from coal. However, mercury is released from coal combustion. Due to mercury poisoning,
many elderly villagers in Guizhou Province (China) exhibit loss of vision. Chemical analysis of the coal sample
being used in this village indicates more concentration of mercury (Zheng and Huang, 1989). Mercuric poison
acts as a neurotoxin. Thus, the loss of vision may be related to high levels of mercury released from the coal
used in this village.
CONCLUSION

According to World Health organization, health of an individual is a state of complete physical, mental
social and spiritual well-being and not necessarily the absence of disease or infirmly. Article 47 of Indian
Constitution says that ‘duty of State is to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and
the improvement of public health’.
In spite of the satisfactory health and sanitation facilities provided by the coal mining authorities,
malnutrition persists to agony the mine workers. The matter of great concern is the consequences of malnutrition
are diverse and alarming. Mineworkers and the people of nearby surroundings are exposed to a number of
physical, chemical, biological, technological and mental hazards. Mining industry has to take remedial measures

11/2012 © Utkal University

8 HARAPRASAD MOHAPATRA, SHREERUP GOSWAMI AND MADHUMITA DAS

well in advance to prevent serious public health risk. Future research work on health aspect of the people around
coal mines of India would definitely unravel role of manganese in affecting the geochemical environment.
Mine Owner or Manager should conduct periodical examinations of the workers. In order to avoid
scarcity of water, rainwater harvesting in mine pits and digging more tube well would be desirable. More
Precautions have to be taken to suppress the dust by sprinkling water at regular intervals, black topping the mine
and mine colony roads and undertaking plantation (of especially dust absorbent plants) in and around the mine
area. Pollution Control Boards should be vigilant that the recommended airborne exposure limit of coal dust
should not be exceeded at any time. Mine authorities should be careful that the respective prescribed sound level
should not be exceeded at any time in core zones, residential areas and sensitive areas. Plantation of noise
attenuating plants should be undertaken. Social impact analysis (SIA) is required throughout the life of the mine,
particularly those, who are displaced by mine management. Similarly RAP (Rehabilitation Action Plan) should
be carried out successfully by the Mining authorities. EAP (Environmental Action Plan) such as Domestic
Effluent Treatment Plant, Workshop Effluent Treatment Plant and Mine Water Discharge Sedimentation Plant
should be set up and run. Moreover, other EAP viz., dust suppression majors, tree plantation, overburden dump
reclamation, top soil storage and spreading for bio reclamation, environmental monitoring should be
undertaken.Hence Government, mining authority and public should take remedial measures for reduction of the
adverse impact of mining, rehabilitation of mined land, reuse of mine wastes and mine water etc. A coal mining
project should be developed as a part of much wider, multi activity regional development. All the material
extracted by the mining company should be put to productive use. Waste rock, excess mine water can be used
as raw material for a variety of ancillary industries. Fly ash should be used for underground back fill, fly ash
bricks must be used for embankment and production of construction materials for mine use. All excess mine
waste can be used for soil development. Excess mine processed water (after use in recycling) is treated for
being used in fish farm ponds and crop irrigation (Aswathanarayana, 2003). Hence a sagacious strategy should
be implemented in coal mining industries of India to promote job-led economic growth through the adoption of
employment generating, economically viable and ecofriendly technologies.

References

ADRIANO, D. C., PAGE, A. L., ELSCEWI, A.A., CHANG, A. C. and STRAUGHAM, I. (1980) Utilization
and disposal of fly ash and other coal residues in terrestrial ecosystem: A review. J. Environ. Qual., v.9,
pp. 333-444.
ASWATHANARAYANA, V. (2003) Natural Resources and Environment. Geological Society of India,
Bangalore, pp. 58-59.
ATTFIELD, M.D. and HODOUS, T.K. (1992) Pulmonary function of US coal miners related to dust exposure
estimates. Am. Rev. Respir. Dis., v.145, pp. 605-609.
ATTFIELD, M.D. and SEIXAS, N.S. (1995) Prevalence of pneumoconiosis and its relationship to dust exposure
in a cohort of US bituminous coal miners and ex-miners. Am. J. Industr. Med., v.27, pp.137–151.
BASU, A., SOM, A., GHOSHAL, S., MONDAL, L., CHAUBEY, R.C., BHILWADE, H.N., RAHMAN, M.M. and
GIRI, A.K. (2005) Assessment of DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes of individual susceptible to
arsenic induced toxicity in West Bengal, India. Toxicol. Lett., v.159, pp. 100-112.
CASTRANOVA, V. (2000) From coal mine dust to quartz: mechanisms of pulmonary pathogenicity; Inhal.
Toxicol. v.12, pp.7–14.
CASTRANOVA, V. and VALLYATHAN, V. (2000) Silicosis and coal worker’s pneumoconiosis. Environ.
Health Perspect, v.108, pp. 675–684.
CASTRANOVA, V., PORTER, D., MILLECCHIA, L., MA, J. Y. C., HUBBS, A. F. and TEASS, K. (2002)
Effect of inhaled crystalline silica in a rat model. Mol. Cell Biochem., v.234, pp. 177–184.

11/2012 © Utkal University

 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF COAL MINING 9

CENTENO, J.A., MULLICK, F.G., MARTINEZ, L., GIBB, H., LONGFELLOW, D. and THOMPSON, C.
(2002a) Pathology Related to Chronic Arsenic Exposure. Environmental Health Perspectives, v.110(5),
pp. 883-886.
CENTENO, J.A., MULLICK, F.G., MARTINEZ, L., GIBB, H., LONGFELLOW, D. and THOMPSON, C. (2002b)
Chronic Arsenic Toxicity: An Introduction and Overview. Histopathology, v.41(2), pp. 324-326.
CHEN, C.J., HSUEH, Y.M., LAI, M.S., SHYU, M.P., CHEN, S.Y., WU, M.M., KUO, T.L. and TAI, T.Y.
(1995) Increased prevalence of hypertension and long-term arsenic exposure. Hypertension, v.25, pp.53-
60.
COGGON, D., INSKIP, H. and WINTER, P. (1995) Contrasting geographical distribution of mortality from
pneumoconiosis and chronic bronchitis and emphysema in British coal miners. Occup. Environ. Med.,
v.42, pp. 723-733.
COGGON, D. and TAYLOR, A. N. (1998) Coal Mining and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a review of
evidence. Thorax; v.53, pp. 398-407.
EDMUNDS, M. and SMEDLEY, P. (2005) Fluoride in natural waters-Occurrence, controls and health aspects. In:
Essentials of Medical Geology. (Eds.) O. Selinus, B. Alloway, J.A. Centeno, R.B. Finkelman, R. Fuge, U.
Lindh, P. Smedley, Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 301-329.
ELANOG, L., RAMACHANDRAN, S. and CHOUDHARY, Y.S.N. (1992) Ground water quality in the coastal
region of south Madras. Indian J. Environ. Health, v.34, pp. 318-325.
FINKELMAN, R.B., BELKIN, H.E. and ZHENG, B. (1999) Health impacts of domestic coal use in China.
Proceedings National Academy of Science, USA, v.96, pp. 3427-3431.
FORDYCE, F. (2005) Selenium deficiency and toxicity in the environment. In: Essentials of Medical Geology.
(Eds.) O. Selinus, B. Alloway, J.A. Centeno, R.B. Finkelman, R. Fuge, U. Lindh, P. Smedley, Elsevier,
Amsterdam, pp. 373-415.
GHOSH, R. (1993) Damage to natural surface drainage in Jharia coalfield through half of century up to 1974.
In: Env. Issues in Min. Res. Dev. (Ed.) K.L. Ray, Gyan Publishing House, New Delhi, pp. 135-144.
GRAY, N.F. (2005) Water Technology. An introduction for Environmental scientists and engineers. Elsevier,
pp. 1-645.
GUPTA, S., MALLICK, T., DATTA, J.K. and SAHA, R.N. (2006). Impact of Opencast Mining on the soil and
plant communities of Sonepur-Bajari Opencast Coal mine area, West Bengal, India, UU Special
Publication in Geology, v.5, pp. 194-198.
HACKNEY, J., LINN, W. and BELL, K. (1978) Experimental studies of the human health effects of sulfur
oxides. Bull. New York Academy of Medicine, v.54(11), pp.1177.
HENNEBERGER, P.K. and ATTFIELD, M.D. (1996) Coal mine dust exposure and spirometry in experienced
miners. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., v.153, pp. 1560-1566.
KUEMPEL, E.D., O’FLAHERTY, E.J., STAYNER, L.T., SMITH, R.J., GREEN, F.H.Y. and VALLYATHAN,
V. (2001a) A biomathematical model of particle clearance and retention in the lungs of coal miners. Part
I, model development; Reg. Toxicol. Pharmacol., v.34, pp. 69-87.
KUEMPEL, E.D., TRAN, C.L., SMITH, R.J. and BAILER, A.J. (2001b) A biomathematical model of particle
clearance and retention in the lungs of coal miners: Part II, evaluation of variability and uncertainty;
Reg. Toxicol. Pharmacol., v.34, pp. 88–101.
LAPP, N.L. and CASTRANOVA, V. (1993) How silicosis and coal worker’s pneumoconiosis develop, a
cellular assessment. Occup. Med. State Art Rev., v.5, pp.35–56.
LEIGH, J., DRISCOLL, T.R. and COLE, B.D. (1994) Quantitative relation between emphysema and lung
mineral content in coal workers. Occup. Environ. Med., v.51, pp. 400-407.
MAITI, S.S., MUKHOPADHYAY, M., GUPTA, S.K. and BENERJEE, S.K. (1990) Evaluation of fly-ash as a
useful material in agriculture. J. Ind. Soc. Soil. Sc., v.38, pp. 342-344.
MATHUR, R. (2005) Reproductive behaviour in Animals, Animal behaviour. (Ed.) R. Mathur, Rastogi
Publication, Meerut, pp. 384-420.
NADIF, R., BOURGKARD, E., DUSCH, M., BERNADAC, P. and BERTRAND, J. P. (1998) Relations
between occupational exposure to coal mine dusts, erythrocyte catalase and Cu++ / Zn++ superoxide

11/2012 © Utkal University

 10 HARAPRASAD MOHAPATRA, SHREERUP GOSWAMI AND MADHUMITA DAS

dimutase activities and the severity of coal worker’s pneumoconiosis. Occup. Environ. Med., v.55, pp.
533–540.
OREM, W.H., FEDER, G.L. and FINKELMAN, R.B. (1999) A possible link between Balkan endemic nephropathy and the
leaching of toxic organic compounds from Pliocene lignite by groundwater: preliminary investigation. International
Journal of Coal Geology, v.40 (2-3), pp. 237-252.
OXAMAN, A.D., MUIR, D.C.F. and SHANNON, H.S. (1993) Occupational dust exposure and chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease. Am. Rev. Respir. Dis., v.148, pp. 38-48.
PORTER, D., YE, J., MA, J., BARGER, M. and ROBINSON, V. A. (2002b) Time course of pulmonary
response of rats to inhalation of chrystalline silica: NF-KB activation, inflammation, cytokine
production and damage Inhal. Toxicol., v.14, pp.349–367.
RICE, F.L., PARK, R., STAYNER, L., SMITH, R., GILBERT, S. and CHECKOWAY, H. (2001) Crystalline
silica exposure and lung cancer mortality in diatomaceous earth industry workers: a quantitative risk
assessment. Occup. Environ. Med., v.58, pp. 38–45.
SAGAR, P., PATEL, K.L. and NABIULLAH, M. (2002) Development of heat resistant explosives and their
laboratory and evaluation protocol for application in fire affected mines. Minetech, v.4, pp. 23-29.
SAIYED, H.N. (1999) Silicosis-an uncommonly diagnosed common occupational disease. Indian Counc. Med.
Res., v.29, pp.1-17.
SCHINS, R.P.F., KEMAN, S. and BORM, P.J.A. (1997) Blood antioxidant status in coal dust-induced respiratory
disorders: a longitudinal evaluation of multiple biomarkers. Biomarkers, v.2, pp. 45–50.
SEIXAS, N.S., ROBINS, T.G. and ATTFIELD, M.D. (1993) Longitudinal and cross sectional analyses of exposure to coal
mine dust and pulmonary function in new miners. Br. J. Ind. Med., v.50, pp. 929-937.
SINGH, A. N., RAGHUBANSHI, A. S. and SINGH, J. S. (2002) Plantations as a tool for mine spoil restoration.
Current Science, v.82, pp.12.
SINGH, G. (1999) Water pollution issues and control strategies in mining areas. Minetech, v.20(1), pp. 45-53.
SINGH, G. (2005) Chemical, Microbiological and Geological Aspects of Acid Mine Drainage and its control
aspects. Proceedings (Abstracts) National Seminar on “New Horizons in Environmental Sciences and
Engineering in India” November 17-19, 2004, Bangalore University. The Indian Mining and Engg.
Journal, v.44 (2-3), pp. 20-30.
SINGH, G. and PURI, S. K. (2004) Air quality assessment in Korba coalfield. Indian Journal of Air Pollution
Control, v.4 (2), pp. 31-41.
SINGH, V. and SINGH, T.N. (2004) Environmental impact due to surface mining in India. Minetech, v. 25 (1),
3-7.
SOUTAR, C., CAMPBEL, S. and GURR, D. (1993) Important deficits of lung functions in three modern colliery
populations relations with dust exposure. Am. Rev. Respir. Dis., v.147, pp. 797-803.
TCHOUNWOU, P.B., PATLOLLA, A.K. and CENTENO, J.A. (2003) Carcinogenic and systemic health effects
associated with arsenic exposure-a critical review. Toxicologic Pathology, v.31, pp. 575-588.
UNNI, K.S. and FOLE, A. (1999) Surface and Ground water Quality in Coal mine Area of Chhindwara Dist., M.P.
Environmental Management in Coal Mining and Thermal Power Plants. (Eds.) P.C. Mishra and A. Naik,
Technoscience Publications, Bihar, pp. 197-201.
ZHENG, B. and HUANG, R. (1989) Human fluorosis and environmental geochemistry in south-east China.
Developments in Geoscience, contributions to 28th international Geologic Congress, 1989, Washington,
D.C. Science Press, Beijing, China, pp. 171-176.
ZHENG, B.S. and LONG, J.P. (1984) Endemic arsenicosis caused by high arsenic coals in Guizhou Province,
China. J. Preven. Treat. Endemic Dis., v.19: 41-33.
ZHENG, B. AND HUANG, Y., ZHAO, W., ZHOU, H., XIA, W., SU, H., MAO, D., YAN, L. and
THORNTON, I. (1992) The Se-rich carbonaceous siliceous rock and endemic selenosis in south-west
hubei, China. Chin. Sci. Bull., v. 37, pp.1725-1729.

11/2012 © Utkal University

View publication stats