NEW DELHI: Communities living around areas in India that witness mining operations are showing measurable signs of lung impairment and heavy-metal exposure, according to new data tabled in Lok Sabha.The health ministry, citing Indian Council of Medical Research studies, has confirmed that residents in mining belts face risks comparable to those for workers directly involved in extraction.A National Institute of Occupational Health study of 1,202 people living near coal mines found abnormal pulmonary function in 14.3% of miners, 10% of supervisory staff and 7.8% of residents. Chest X-rays showed interstitial lung fibrosis in 2.5% of miners, 2.3% of supervisors and 2.7% of residents. Mercury levels above the permissible exposure limit (<5.8 Mu/dl) were detected in 6.8% of miners and 8% of residents, indicating exposure well beyond workplace boundaries.“These patterns tell us that fine coal dust and silica are travelling far into homes, schools and community spaces,” said Dr Dhiren Gupta, paediatric pulmonologist and allergy specialist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. “When non-workers show lung abnormalities comparable to miners, it means even children and families are facing occupational-level exposure without protection.”In Bhilwara district, Rajasthan, children living near the Rampura Agucha mine had higher blood lead levels than control groups, though researchers did not detect toxicity or IQ decline. In Angul and Damanjodi in Odisha, an ICMR assessment found 2.35% and 2.04% respiratory impairment, respectively, among community members.Experts warn that such findings suggest deeper environmental lapses. “If residents show structural lung changes, it strongly indicates that dust suppression and emission control measures are nowhere near sufficient,” said Dr Pritpal Kaur, senior consultant, Pulmonology, Apollo Spectra Hospital, Delhi. She added that community-level exposure points to presence of fugitive dust, inadequate green buffers and outdated dust-control technology.Despite the red flags, mining companies told govt they already provided wide-ranging healthcare in affected areas. Coal India Limited runs 64 hospitals, 300 dispensaries and 18 mobile vans, while NLC India Ltd and Singareni Collieries conduct periodic screening through Occupational Health Centres.But public health specialists say these initiatives fall short of the long-term surveillance mining communities need. “Health camps and mobile units are episodic and basic,” said Dr Neetu Jain of PSRI Hospital. “Only structured programmes with regular screenings, specialist clinics and environmental audits can catch disease early and prevent irreversible damage.”The health ministry said it maintained coordination with the ministry of coal and district authorities to run national programmes relating to respiratory diseases, but experts believe the new data underscores the need for more rigorous monitoring and stronger environmental safeguards in India’s mining belts.
