Mining and Health

Information about the impacts of mining on human health.

Health Impact Assessments are an important tool for evaluating the potential human health effects of proposed mines (as well as other new policies, programs, or development projects).  For more in formation, see our health impact assessments page.

Toxic Substances

• Toxipedia is a free toxicology encyclopedia offering articles and resources about toxic chemicals (such as pesticides and endocrine disruptors), health conditions, ethical considerations, the history of toxicology, laws and regulation, and more.
• The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry maintains a database of information about toxic substances.  It contains fact sheets and other information.
• EPA’S Toxics Release Inventory is a database containing data on disposal or other releases of over 650 toxic chemicals from thousands of U.S. facilities and information about how facilities manage those chemicals through recycling, energy recovery, and treatment.

Mining and Communities

• Honoring the River: How Hardrock Mining Impacts Tribal Communities

“Tribes have been disproportionately harmed by hardrock mining and the pollution caused by mining waste,” said Tony Turrini, senior attorney for National Wildlife Federation. “We’re calling on the Obama Administration to close Clean Water Act loopholes that allow mines to store untreated waste in natural waters. Closing these loopholes won’t stop hardrock mining, but it would help protect tribal communities from the chemicals, heavy metals, and acid drainage produced by modern mines.” http://www.nwf.org/News-and-Magazines/Media-Center/News-by-Topic/Wildlife/2013/04-25-13-Honoring-the-River-Press-Release.aspx

• Polluting the Future.  How mining companies are polluting our nation’s waters in perpetuity.

“In the midst of declining fresh water supplies, an increasing number of hard rock mining companies are generating water pollution that will last for hundreds or thousands of years and new projects are on the horizon”. http://www.earthworksaction.org/library/detail/polluting_the_future#.UYmLsKLqmFQ

Useful Science

• Pollution and Cancer in Alaska (Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, 2006)
• Impacts of Metals on Aquatic Ecosystems and Human Health (Frances Solomon, 2008)
• Impacts of Copper on Aquatic Ecosystems and Human Health (Frances Solomon, 2009)

Advertisement