Historical Assessment of Health in Ohio Appalachian Coal Communities

Madelaine Underhill, Ohio University
Nancy Tatarek, Ohio University

Coal mining has been a part of the migration, settlement and industrialization of the United States since the first colonies mined coal in the 18th century. Coal mining in Ohio began in the early 19th century and continues today in the 21st century. Closely tied to the reliance on coal is the knowledge of the impact the act of mining has on humans and the environment. Agricola described black lung symptoms in a monograph from 1556. In the subsequent 470 years, scientists understand that beyond black lung, coal miners suffer from a range of occupationally related health issues beyond black lung, including heart and kidney disease. Gaps remain in our knowledge of some areas, however. Much historical research on U.S. coal mining focuses on Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Research like Corn’s 1983 study examines coal mine dangers and the impact of these on miner health in Pennsylvania. Weaver’s 2011 book examines the effects on local communities tied to the coal mining industry also in Pennsylvania. Little work has been conducted on the coal miners and coal communities in Ohio, especially Appalachian Ohio. Additionally, few studies take a community approach and examine coal mining communities. Such holistic research is vital to understanding the industry’s past health issues and how those issues might translate into 21st concerns. The current study aims to understand the health challenges faced by Ohio coal miners and coal mining communities in Athens and Perry counties during the years 1867 to 1919. We constructed a death certificate database of 32,121 individuals to attempt to assess overall community health. We combine the death certificate data with contextual data such as local geography and water vulnerability information to form a more complete picture of health challenges faced by coal mining communities in the 19th and 20st centuries.

No extended abstract or paper available

 Presented in Session 86. Gender and Health: From Coal Miners to Motherhood