the impact of coal mining on the local population

[Miha Kupljenik 16, Luka Močilnikar 16 Slovenia 31 March 2017 at 13:40 Post count: 0]

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Since the early 1960, the Douglasdale area has been exposed to multiple open-cast coal mines, where as only one of these contains 4 miliones tones of coal. New mines are being planed in the area, of wich one is located in the range of less than a 1000 meters of th villages hospital. Scottish Coal, the former-UK’s largest open cast producer, has been given permission to mine 1.7 million tonnes of coal from Mainshill Wood in South Lanarkshire, a decision by South Lanarkshire Council that enraged local residents who for years have campaigned against this mine. There are already four other mines in the area, making it one of the most heavily mined areas in Europe. In a traffic survey, conducted in 2011, over 130 HGVs passed through the towns Douglas and Glespin in one day.That was a violation of a agreement beten the local population and the company, wich didtated that no traffic shall be routed throught the village. The locals have sent over 700 letters of objection. None had any efect. Many reaserches had beenm done on the subject, and here are some general effects on the sorounding population:

1.       Air pollution,

2.       Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity),

3.       Global warming,

4.       Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation,

5.       Noise pollution, Soil contamination,

6.       Deforestation

7.       Loss of vegetation cover, leading to lanscapes

Studies performed in the United States indicate higher lung cancer rates, and higher mortality

rates for respiratory, heart, and kidney diseases in communities living in proximity to open-cast

coal extraction operations.

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