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Appalachian communities that depend on the coal-mining industry have long suffered high rates of premature death. A new study shows the cost of excess deaths could be more than $80 billion.
Coal supporters like to point to the jobs and economic activity that coal mining brings to communities. But a new study argues the human costs of coal mining in Appalachia far outweighs its benefits. Michael Hendryx, a researcher at West Virginia University, talks with host Steve Curwood about coal’s toll and policy options that would encourage richer, healthier communities in coal country.