Jesus. My grandfather was a miner in infamous Harlan County, KY. He later moved to Cincinnati, where he became a millwright and union leader.

My grandfather was a miner in NE Oklahoma (lead & zinc). Production was increased during the World Wars b/c the lead was needed for bullets. Scrap material called chat was left in huge piles; over time lead leeched into the soil, air, & water. That area became part of the Tar Creek Superfund Site.