AAppPPLYING COMMON SENSE TO THE ISSUE OF MINING & HEALTH ISSUES
Applying a Little Common Sense to the "Issue" of Mining, Bad Health, Birth Defects and Poverty
By T.L. HEADLEY, MBA, MA, BA, AAMS
As a parent, any birth defect is one too many, but this
study by Michael Hendryx, like his others, has been falsely presented
as an indictment of mining. Some have suggested, including the author,
that this study shows some link between mining and the incidence of
birth defects, but let's look a little more closely at the data and the
way it was presented. I think this shows clearly that this study, and
the others coming out of Hendryx, Downstream Strategies and other such
groups, is little more than propaganda masked as science.
"Now,
according to Hendryx' study, there are 23.5 birth defects for every 1000
births in mining areas. Hendryx study then reports that the incidence
of birth defects in "non-mining areas" was just 14.4 per 1000 births.
Now, taken alone, that would trouble anyone, but there are problems with
those numbers ...
First, when you look at the DHHS birth
defects report you find that the incidence rate for West Virginia as a
whole is 24.1 per 1000 births and more than 37.7 per 1000 births when
congental issues causing death are included. Now that means that the
"mining area's" incidence rate for birth defects was actually LOWER than
the state average and SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER than the state average when
all birth defects are included.
Also, when you look at the CDC
data for the United States as a whole, you find that the incidence rate
nationwide is 33.3 out of every 1000 births -- far higher than the rate
found in the "mining areas" identified by Hendryx.
Were these
numbers mentioned in Hendryx' "study?" Why not? He obviously saw them.
They are readily available for anyone to find on the web.
The
reason, to me, is clear. Including these data points would have
disproven the hypothesis he was intent on proving from the start.
Hendryx
chose two very small sample populations, with a geographic distribution
that would make the Legislative Redistricting Committee cringe. ... As a
result, he got the results he wanted BUT the broader data for the state
and nation clearly shows this to be a use of science and statistics as
nothing more than propaganda.
Data from Hendryx Study on Birth Defects:
- 23.5 per 1000 births in mining areas
- 14.4 per 1000 births in the identified non-mining area.
Data from CDC on US rate
OVERALL West
Virginia rate from the DHHS Birth Defects Study
- 24.1 defects for 1000 births
- 37.7 defects for 1000 births with congenital issues leading
to death included.
This same skewing of data is evident in the Hendryx "study" of
health effects. I could go into this in depth as well, but I am afraid I
would put everyone to sleep. Suffice it to say that the cancer
incidence (cancer being perhaps the most environmentally-sensitive
disease today) shows no evidence of mining being a causal factor in its
development. Rather the rates of specific types of cancer show wide
geographic spread across the state, with a higher state baseline BUT no
appreciable difference between traditional mining and non-mining
counties. If mining were, indeed, the causal factor one would think
there would be substantially higher rates of cancer in mining areas and
significantly lower rates in non-mining areas in order to arrive at the
higher state baseline. Even Hendryx is careful to say his
studies only "suggest correlation" and not "causation." I am reminded
of the classic study that showed a correlation between the sales of ice
cream and the murder rate in Houston. The study suggested a strong
correlation between sales of ice cream and the murder rate. Obviously
eating ice cream didn't cause people to commit murder, rather it was
that sales of ice cream increased in the heat of summer, when people
were out and about, in closer contact, and combined with the heat of
summer it led to anger outbursts and other factors that increased the
murder rate. Ice cream sales and murder were correlated but there was no
causal relationship.In the most recent study, one performed by
Downstream Strategies, one of the real causal factors for both the birth
defects and the broader health issues confronting West Virginians is
clearly shown -- the level of poverty seen in our rural areas. Combined
with our poor diet and lack of exercise (confirmed as a causal factor in
study after study) poverty pervades most of the rural counties of our
state. Downstream Strategies, itself, suggested that in many of
these counties coal mining accounts for more than 25 percent of the
county economy as well as the best jobs available for county residents.
In many of these counties the mining industry accounts for a much
greater portion of the economy. If you have a job, you either work as a
miner or your job depends on mining in some way. In some of our counties
upwards of 80 percent of the county's tax base comes from coal. As we say, one of the most effective prescription for good health is a good job. The
coal industry today provides more than $3.4 billion a year in payroll
in West Virginia alone. It contributes $26 billion each year to the
state's economy and this year coal severance taxes will top $500 million
alone -- much of it going to these rural counties to provide help to
the unemployed and support people-helping programs. Without the coal
industry it is likely these counties would not be able to pay their
bills, to keep teachers, law enforcement and basic services going or
keep the doors of social programs open. We all believe it vital
that West Virginia fully develop and diversify its economy, especially
the southern coalfields where they don't enjoy the benefits enjoyed here
in Wood County -- flat, developable land, location near navigable
streams and good highway access, or even access to quality hospitals and
medical services. But I can assure you that coal mining is NOT
the problem, but it CAN be part of the solution. Working together with
the coal industry, with proper planning and cooperation, local and state
economic and community development officials, can overcome perhaps the
greatest impediment to development -- the geography that is both our
blessing and our curse. It is our mountains that have shielded us and
protected us, even as they severely limited our economic development. Coal
mining -- and yes, large scale surface mining -- can provide the flat,
developable land that these counties so desperately need to diversify
their economy. It is happening now -- in Mingo County and Logan County,
in McDowell County and Raleigh County. As a state, we haven't done
enough but the answer is there in front of us. All it takes is planning
and cooperation. We have to make full use of ALL our available
resources and mining is just that -- it provides good jobs today and a
bridge to a new future.
NOTE:
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Current Conditions
Logan, WV
Updated Saturday, January 28, 2012 8:54 AM
Mostly Cloudy | 37°F | High: 45°F
Low: 24°F
Wind: 7 mph
Humidity: 87%
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Sunday
42° / 23° | 
Monday
47° / 33° |
Tuesday
56° / 42° |
Wednesday
54° / 39° |
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