WVU STUDY MAKES DEFINED CANCER LINKS TO MOUNTAINTOP COAL REMOVAL DUST

(10/18/2014)

Report out of WVU finds direct connection between mountaintop removal mining dust and cancer...By Sarah Tincher, Energy Reporter, State Journal Scientists from West Virginia University say they have, for the first time, found a direct connection mountaintop removal coal mining dust and cancer. The team of scientists, mainly from West Virginia University's Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center for Cardiovascular and Respiratory Science, posted the peer-reviewed study, "Appalachian Mountaintop Mining Particulate Matter Induces Neoplastic Transformation of Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells and Promotes Tumor Formation" on Oct. 14. "This study shows that dust collected from MTR (mountaintop removal) communities promotes lung cancer," Dr. Michael Hendryx, now at Indiana University's School of Public Health and one of the study's authors. "Previous studies have shown that people who live in these communities have higher lung cancer rates not due just to smoking, but with this study we now have solid evidence that dust collected from residential areas near MTR sites causes cancerous changes to human lung cells." According to the study, chronic exposure to particulate matter produced by mountaintop coal mining activities induced neoplastic transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells with cancer-like properties. While data did not indicate tumor initiation by mountaintop coal mining particulate matter, the lung tumor promotion and progression by the particulate matter are a health concern as a cancer promoter ... READ COMPLETE STATE JOURNAL STORY:   Report out of WVU finds direct connection between mountaintop removal mining dust and cancer   By Sarah Tincher, Energy Reporter, State Journal

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