Proximity to coal mines and mortality rates in the Appalachian Region of the United States: a spatial econometric analysis

Abstract

Over the last several years, a body of the scholarly literature has emerged analysing the effects of proximity to coal mines and various human health indicators in the United States. These studies have found evidence of an increased poor health status associated with the production of coal and with close proximity to coal mines. The present study contributes to this literature by analysing the spatial effects of coal production on neighbouring counties within the entire 420-county, 13-state Appalachian Region in terms of increased rates of death attributable to respiratory diseases.

Keywords

• spatial panel data model
• regional analysis of coal mine production
• analysis of health and proximity to coal mines