Health Impacts Of Coal

MEDIA ALERT

Health Impacts of Coal

Public speaking tour by global pollution health expert

A global expert on the impacts of pollution on human health will be touring the NSW Hunter Valley next week, to raise public awareness of the health impacts of the region's coal industry. The Hunter Valley is one of the coal mining capitals of the world, and home to the world's largest coal port at Newcastle. The region's coal industry is currently undergoing a rapid expansion.

Dr Dick van Steenis began investigating the health impacts of the coal mining industry in Wales in 1994. He discovered that the rate of asthma puffer use in children was directly proportional to how close they lived to a coal mine. He has since become a global expert on the health impacts of coal and dust pollution. He is a retired GP and has studied pollution science at Harvard University.

Tour dates:
*Sunday 6th December - Gloucester. Senior Citizens Centre, 30 Hume St. 2:30pm
-Contact Jane Stevenson - [email protected]

*Monday 7th December - Caroona. Caroona Hall, Caroona. 7pm.
-Contact Pauline Roberts, Caroona Coal Action Group - 0407 011 733

*Tuesday 8th December - Muswellbrook. Ron Adams Room, Muswellbrook Workers Club,
Sydney Road.
-Contact Bev Smiles, Minewatch - 0428 817 282

*Wednesday 9th December - Singleton. Singleton Returned Services Club, York St. 7pm.
-Contact John Drinan, Singleton Shire Environmental Health Group - [email protected]

*Thursday 10th December - Newcastle. 6 - 8pm, Gallipoli Legion Club. 3 Beaumont St, Hamilton.
-Contact Steve Phillips, Rising Tide Newcastle - 0437 275 119

The tour by Dr Steenis comes as the US organisation Physicians for Social Responsibility releases a new report entitled Coal's Assault on Human Health. This shocking new report reveals the devastating effects of the global coal industry on human respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological health. For more information see:
http://www.psr.org/resources/coals-assault-on-human-health. html

For further information on local events contact the people listed above.
For comment call
Steve Phillips
0437 275 119

SOURCE: Rising Tide Newcastle