Participation Type
Paper
Presentation #1 Title
“Public Health in Appalachia: Looking at Coal’s Direct and Indirect Impacts”
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
Appalachia suffers from many public health issues related to coal, including black lung disease, diseases related to coal fly ash exposure, and an opioid epidemic. Black lung and ash exposure have direct connections while the opioid epidemic has indirect connections.
From 2000 to 2012, black lung disease cases increased 900%. Since 2010, Appalachia has experienced 2,000 new black lung cases with some progressing more rapidly than past cases. According to David Weissman of NIOSH, “'The only thing that causes this illness is the inhalation of dust during coal mining [so to] have people getting sick so young, they must have been way overexposed, which means failures in compliance.'”
In December 2008, a coal fly ash spill occurred at TVA’s Kingston, Tennessee plant, which began a series of complex failures. Resulting lawsuits have alleged TVA's and EPA’s incompetence concerning the cleanup where unprotected workers have died or fallen ill from exposure to the ash.
The opioid epidemic began twenty years ago with Appalachia suffering first. The region now has the highest overdose rates in the nation. Work injuries suffered by coal miners resulted in prescriptions for new opioid painkillers, including oxycontin. Laws were slow to react, resulting in the current epidemic.
Our research looks at court filings, agency documents, and recent studies for insight into the true costs of coal with its accompanying public health issues. We focus on the impact of law, regulations, and lawsuits on these issues.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Priscilla Harris has taught law for sixteen years and is currently teaching at Vanderbilt Law School. As a 2016-2017 U.S. Core Fulbright Scholar, she taught at Vilnius University and worked with Lithuanian courts. She has conducted field research in Appalachia funded by a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation program. She received her J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and her B.A. from Florida State University. Earlier, she practiced law for over ten years and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Health.
Presentation #2 Title
Same title (co-presenter)
Presentation #2 Abstract or Summary
Same abstract (co-presenter).
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #2
Patrick Baker joined the University of Tennessee-Martin faculty in 2015, teaching law within the College of Business & Global Affairs. Earlier, Patrick, an Associate Professor at Appalachian School of Law in Virginia, was appointed inaugural director of the Natural Resources Law Center. His scholarship focuses on Appalachian, Property, Environmental, and Energy legal issues. His articles have appeared in leading Environmental and Energy Law journals. He has also been quoted in leading newspapers, including the London Times and Washington Post.
Conference Subthemes
Health
“Public Health in Appalachia: Looking at Coal’s Direct and Indirect Impacts”
Appalachia suffers from many public health issues related to coal, including black lung disease, diseases related to coal fly ash exposure, and an opioid epidemic. Black lung and ash exposure have direct connections while the opioid epidemic has indirect connections.
From 2000 to 2012, black lung disease cases increased 900%. Since 2010, Appalachia has experienced 2,000 new black lung cases with some progressing more rapidly than past cases. According to David Weissman of NIOSH, “'The only thing that causes this illness is the inhalation of dust during coal mining [so to] have people getting sick so young, they must have been way overexposed, which means failures in compliance.'”
In December 2008, a coal fly ash spill occurred at TVA’s Kingston, Tennessee plant, which began a series of complex failures. Resulting lawsuits have alleged TVA's and EPA’s incompetence concerning the cleanup where unprotected workers have died or fallen ill from exposure to the ash.
The opioid epidemic began twenty years ago with Appalachia suffering first. The region now has the highest overdose rates in the nation. Work injuries suffered by coal miners resulted in prescriptions for new opioid painkillers, including oxycontin. Laws were slow to react, resulting in the current epidemic.
Our research looks at court filings, agency documents, and recent studies for insight into the true costs of coal with its accompanying public health issues. We focus on the impact of law, regulations, and lawsuits on these issues.
