About this talk

“What is the ethical obligation of the scientist who believes populations are in danger?” That was the question that professor Michael Hendryx asked himself when he began to uncover the detrimental health effects of mountain top removal in Appalachia. Mountaintop removal mining—the practice of blowing off the tops of mountains in order to access coal with lower sulfur content—holds fewer health risks for miners, but the health implications for people living in close proximity to MTR locations have long been unknown, and even disputed.

With their research, Michael and his team found evidence that the populations living near mountaintop removal sites saw significantly higher rates of birth defects, serious disease, and mortality. However, Michael’s research met strong opposition from the coal industry and from local coal country governments, who didn’t want his findings to be shared. Tune in to Michael’s 2017 TEDMED Talk to find out how he’s working to stand up for the Appalachians living near MTR sites and to establish the public health consequences of coal mining once and for all.

About Michael Hendryx

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Michael Hendryx is a leading researcher on environmental health and a professor at the Indiana University Bloomington School of Public Health. He is known for his pioneering work that connects environmental pollution to public health problems, especially in disadvantaged communities. Since 2006, his research has focused on the health of people in Appalachia who live near mountaintop removal coal mining. His studies have provided clear evidence that living close to these mining sites significantly increases the risk for a wide range of health issues, including respiratory illnesses, heart disease, and birth defects. Michael has published over 130 scientific papers, and his work has been critical in raising awareness about the health consequences of this type of mining. He continues to expand his research to include the public health impacts of other energy industries. His mission is to use scientific evidence to inform policy and bring attention to the health problems faced by communities that are disproportionately affected by environmental pollution.