Alarming new data presented in the Lok Sabha reveals that communities living near mining sites across India are suffering measurable lung damage and dangerous exposure to heavy metals. The findings confirm that the health risks, once thought to be confined to mine workers, are now spreading to the general population, including children.
Studies Confirm Widespread Health Crisis
The Union Health Ministry, citing research by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), has officially acknowledged the severe public health threat. A pivotal study by the National Institute of Occupational Health examined 1,202 individuals living near coal mines. It found abnormal pulmonary function in 14.3% of miners, 10% of supervisory staff, and a concerning 7.8% of local residents.
Furthermore, chest X-rays detected interstitial lung fibrosis in 2.5% of miners, 2.3% of supervisors, and 2.7% of residents. The data on mercury exposure was equally troubling, with levels above the safe limit found in 6.8% of miners and 8% of residents. This clearly indicates that toxic exposure is escaping the workplace and contaminating the surrounding environment.
Experts Decry Environmental Failures
Medical specialists interpret these patterns as a sign of systemic failure in containing mining pollution. Dr. Dhiren Gupta, a paediatric pulmonologist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, explained that the comparable lung damage in non-workers means fine coal dust and silica are travelling into homes and schools. "It means even children and families are facing occupational-level exposure without any protection," he stated.
Other regional studies reinforce the national picture. In Bhilwara, Rajasthan, children near the Rampura Agucha mine had elevated blood lead levels. In Odisha's Angul and Damanjodi, ICMR assessments found respiratory impairment in 2.35% and 2.04% of community members, respectively.
Dr. Pritpal Kaur, a senior pulmonology consultant at Apollo Spectra Hospital, Delhi, warned that resident lung damage is a red flag. "It strongly indicates that dust suppression and emission control measures are nowhere near sufficient," she said, blaming fugitive dust, poor green buffers, and outdated technology.
Corporate Measures Fall Short, Say Specialists
In response to these concerns, mining companies like Coal India Limited pointed to existing healthcare infrastructure, which includes 64 hospitals, 300 dispensaries, and 18 mobile vans. NLC India Ltd and Singareni Collieries also conduct health screenings.
However, public health experts argue these efforts are inadequate. Dr. Neetu Jain of PSRI Hospital criticized such initiatives as "episodic and basic." She emphasized that only long-term, structured programs with regular specialist screenings and environmental audits can prevent irreversible health damage in these communities.
The Health Ministry maintains it is coordinating with the Coal Ministry and district authorities on national respiratory disease programs. Yet, the stark new data underscores an urgent need for more rigorous health monitoring and significantly stronger environmental safeguards in India's mining belts to protect millions of vulnerable citizens.
