Cancer mortality rates (deaths per 100,000 people) were determined for counties in Appalachia (Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Virginia). Counties were identified as a mountaintop removal (MTR) area if there was at least one MTR mine, 40- 320 acres in size with at least 10 acres of removed ridge top. Counties with mines other than MTR mines or counties with no mines were also evaluated. NOTE: On the bar graph, the letter "a" next to a bar indicates it is significantly different from the "No mining" group for a given cancer; the letter "b" indicates it is significantly different from the "Other mining" group; p < 0.05. Why are the mortality rates for lung and colon cancer shown in a different graph? The researchers reviewed more data for lung and colon cancer. The lung and colon cancer data came from a different cancer study. Lung and colon cancer are faster-acting types of cancers. Lung and colon cancer rates are much higher than the other types of cancer.