Abstract
Lignite mining may result in several health impacts but at present no guideline exists to investigate
those effects. This study was aimed at setting up guidelines for the investigation of possible health impacts
from an open-pit mining project, using the participatory approach involving the public and other
stakeholders. Results from a literature review on possible health impacts and data on the living styles of
the affected community were used to identify the possible health impacts. The public and other stakeholders
were allowed to join the study and provide suggestions for public scoping.It was found that there were four aspects of possible health impacts: physical, mental, social, and
spiritual. Physical health impacts comprised accidents and injuries from mining and transportation; effects
from noise; diseases and effects from air pollution; diseases and effects from water pollution; effects
from blasting; and labor migration and communicable diseases. Mental health impacts were expected
from stress and anxiety. Social health impacts were likely from effects on community lifestyle; effects from
community migration and resettlement; and effects from depletion of forest and agricultural land. Spiritual
health impacts were likely from effects of aesthetic changes and loss of loyalty to and connection with
the locality; and the effects of people losing their spiritual haven.
