02/20/2013
The following letter was sent to the UK childrens hospital today around 4 pm:
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
ATTN: Dr. Michael Karpf
Dear Sir,
The following study, referenced below, has come to our attention: Associations of Early Childhood Manganese and Lead Coexposure with Neurodevelopment. If you would take just a moment of your time to look at the study you will see that this focus on children’s health in the Journal, ‘Research’ is very appropriate for further examination in your hospital.
As many of your Toddler patients are from the area of Appalachia we feel that it is important to examine environmental exposure factors in regards to Toddler health; whereas the primary study mentioned may play a key role with such Patients admitted to your hospital. This is confirmed by a further study: “…this study was to test whether the volume of coal mining was related to population hospitalization risk for diseases postulated to be sensitive or insensitive to coal mining by-products.” As clarified in the abstract of “HOSPITALIZATION PATTERNS ASSOCIATED WITH APPALACHIAN COAL MINING”. As we know, children are very sensitive to all factors, including environmental ones.
It has been consistently shown in medical and geographical research that coal mining by-products contain high levels of both Lead and Manganese, as is further shown in the report, “UNDERGROUND INJECTION OF COAL SLURRY: WATER, HEALTH AND ALTERNATIVES”, with references. The point of contact for such damaging heavy metals being very likely in water sources of Appalachian Toddlers, as is shown in the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Report, “COAL SLURRY WASTE UNDERGROUND INJECTION ASSESSMENT: FINAL REPORT: PHASE II”. We felt that such information could be very useful to your hospital in treating and in helping prevent negative neurodevelopment in Toddlers and needs attention.
We would finally like to point to the following important document which states, “The University of Kentucky will directly and indirectly address needs across the Commonwealth by extending its research…. to every… community in Kentucky. With equal tenacity, research… aimed at improving the quality of individual lives, in areas such as health…” We feel that addressing this issue will fulfill the core values of the Land Grant Mission Statement of the University and the, “UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY STATEMENT OF VISION, MISSION, AND VALUES” through our proposal. Furthermore we would like to point out that, “Engaged research and scholarship addresses significant, current, and relevant problems that face groups and individuals. It is almost always “applied” and can have immediate and important effects on
people’s lives. It is important that the value of this type of research and the
procedures for its validation be understood by all constituents, whether in the
university or in the community.”. As members of all of the aforementioned it is clear that this issue is significant, current and relevant and we promote this important understanding.
Therefore we would like to PROPOSE that the following be implemented in your hospital:
1-Toddlers (ages 1-3) that enter your hospital from the Appalachian regions are tested for levels of Manganese and Lead as offsets of potential coal source environmental exposure to help treat and prevent public health problems.
2-That such tests shall be documented and available, in appropriate format, to the public as a matter of public health record.
Thank you for your time and attention to this proposal. We trust that you will forward this information to the appropriate resources to accomplish these tasks and look forward to feedback concerning their development. We have included references to the above mentioned studies below in order of mention and, in addition, I have enclosed the studies and reports, in full, as attachments in the body of this e-mail for your immediate and direct perusal.
We would finally like to thank you and all of the staff at the Kentucky Children’s hospital for their superb work in advancing the public health of children in Kentucky and surrounding regions. We know that your research “as applied” is a very important health issue for people’s lives in Kentucky and the nation and trust that our proposal will not go unheard.
Good regards,
Mr. Zarathustra Owens
[email protected]
References:
Birgit C.H., Lourdes S., Adrienne S. E., et al. Associations of Early Childhood Manganese and Lead Coexposure with Neurodevelopment. Research, Children’s Health. January 2012. Accessed November, 2012.
Hendryx, M., Ahern M.M., Nurkiewicz K.W.. Hospitalization Patterns Associated with Appalachian Coal Mining. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A, 70: 2064–2070, 2007. June 13, 2007. Accessed November, 2012.
A Sludge Safety Project Citizens’ Report, Underground Injection of Coal Slurry:
Water, Health, and Alternatives. March 19, 2009. Accessed November, 2012.
Ducatman, A., M.D., MSc, Ziemkiewicz, P., Ph.D, Quaranta, J., Ph.D., P.E., et al. Coal Slurry Waste Underground Injection Assessment: Final Report: Phase II. West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Office of Environmental Health Services. July 30, 2012. Accessed November, 2012.
UK Board of Trustees., University of Kentucky Statement of Vision Mission and Values. University of Kentucky. October 10, 2006. Accessed November, 2012.
