Impact of coal mining activities on air environment in the Jharia coalfield region, India : A review

IJEP 42(6): 752-757 : Vol. 42 Issue. 6 (June 2022)

Pramod Kumar*

Delhi University, Department of Chemistry, Sri Aurobindo College, New Delhi – 110 017, India

Abstract

Coal is an important resource in India and it plays a significant role in the energy sector and industrial growth of the country. However, adversely, the coal mine fire, mining of coal and associated activities release particulate matter (PM), polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), toxic gases and metals into air environment and impose many health issues on the local population. The mine fire and poor air quality have been a common hazards affecting the people of the Jharia coalfield (JCF) in district Dhanbad, Jharkhand. The present study reviews the status of air pollution and mine fire area in the Jharia coalfield, which can be useful to environmentalists and decision-makers for establishing the strategies to control the environmental issues in the affected areas.

Keywords

Coal mine fire, air quality status, Jharia coalfield, human health risk

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