HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Coal keeps the lights on and provides jobs for many in our region, but some say its negatives outweigh the positives.

Saturday scientists, healthcare professionals and coalfield residents got together at Marshall’s Campus Christian Center to talk about the effects of coal on human health.

Boone County native Chuck Nelson spent his life working in coal mines.

"When you went in the mines as a miner, you knew you were giving your health up in order to put food on the table," he said.

Nelson's had numerous surgeries to battle his health problems, but he says mountaintop coal mining's effect on others is what caused him to change his views.

"When it starts affecting the innocent people, elderly, children, women, communities in general, when you start seeing enormous health impacts due to industrial waste from coal mines, I have to take sides," Nelson said.

People at Marshall University's “The Toll of Coal: Cradle to Grave Impacts of Coal on Human Health” conference were in agreement the benefits of the energy source are outmatched.

WVU professor Dr. Michael Hendryx has been researching the impacts of mountaintop mining.

He says people who live in coal mining communities are much more likely to contract serious illnesses that lead to death, including heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, and cancer.

"We also see that there are higher rates of poor outcomes in babies, higher rates of birth defects, and higher rates of low birthrate infants most prevalent in mountaintop mining areas," Hendryx said.

They're hoping concern for public health will begin to sway more people to their side of the controversial issue.

"People are more concerned or more receptive about the possible health problems related to mining,” Hendryx said. “Maybe they wouldn't be as concerned if it was just the environment, but it's a health issue too, so that makes it more important."

Conference organizers say they hope those who attended will influence policy-makers to transition toward clean, renewable energy sources.