Amidst the triumphalism of the story of Australian coal lies some dirty truths. Drawing upon international literature, DEA members Bill Castleden, David Shearman, George Crisp and Philip Finch have compiled some of the more worrying aspects of coal's effects on human health. The article in the Medical Journal of Australia is available for subscription only.
Summary from the MJA
• Australia’s coal conundrum. All political parties say they are concerned about climate change whilst sanctioning an unprecedented expansion of coal mining and coal seam gas extraction in Australia.
• Australia’s coal contributes to climate change with its global health impacts.
• Each phase of coal's lifecycle: mining, disposal of contaminated water and tailings, transportation, washing, combustion, and disposing of post-combustion wastes, produces pollutants that affect human health.
• Communities in which coal mining or burning occurs have been shown to suffer significant health impacts.
• Australia’s coal contributes to climate change with its global health impacts.
• Each phase of coal's lifecycle: mining, disposal of contaminated water and tailings, transportation, washing, combustion, and disposing of post-combustion wastes, produces pollutants that affect human health.
• Communities in which coal mining or burning occurs have been shown to suffer significant health impacts.
Doctors for the Environment
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