Workers' Acquiescence to Air Pollution: A Qualitative Study of Coal Miners in China

Coal extraction releases pollutants to the air that affect the health and well-being of not only the coal communities but also societies at large. However, coal also provides people with stable livelihoods. Given this, how do coal workers perceive air pollution that is produced by their own industry? To answer this question, I interviewed coal miners in China. My findings present a paradox: Although miners identify certain sources of air pollution, these same miners nevertheless deny the existence of air pollution. My findings reveal that, in order to collectively avoid the mention of any air quality issues, the miners must avoid a direct confrontation with authority-that same authority that has forged a formulated acquiescence among miners at work. Acknowledging air quality issues could disturb the miners' employment stability by creating anxiety and fear, challenging their ontological security.