There’s a common saying in Appalachia: what we do to the land, we do to the people. Recently, 21 peer-reviewed scientific studies have confirmed the truth of those words. Not only has mountaintop removal permanently destroyed more than 500 Appalachian mountains, but people living near the destruction are 50% more likely to die of cancer and 42% more likely to be born with birth defects compared with other people in Appalachia. Data used in these studies are presented in the interactive map above and summarized here. Click on a county to see a detailed summary at the local level. Data Sources: The Gallup-Healthways Well Being Index, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (Life Expectancy and Population), National Center for Health Statistics natality data (birth defects), Extent of Mountaintop Mining in Appalachia – 2009 combined with most recent active surface mine mine permits approved since the study was completed (acreage impacted), Center for Disease Control (death rates for all cancer, chronic cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, and all causes), The 2010 US Census (poverty rate and population)

Mountaintop Removal: The Human Cost via World Catastrophe Map