Health Effects
The majority of the pollution from proposed Plant Ben Hill would fallout within a 60 mile radius of the plant, with some of the pollution entering the global transport cycle. The health of future generations is not only a concern for Ben Hill County residents, but for surrounding counties as well.
Pollution from coal plants can damage the respiratory, cardiovascular, and nervous systems and can cause or worsen a host of illnesses and diseases. A recent study from Physicians for Social Responsibility shows that long-term exposure to low levels of coal pollution contributes to 4 of the top 5 leading causes of death in the U.S.: heart disease, cancer, stroke, and chronic lower respiratory diseases. Particularly vulnerable populations include children, the elderly, and those already suffering from respiratory diseases.
Some of the pollutants released upon combustion of coal include particulate matter, mercury, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and coal ash. Coal ash is such an important topic that it has its own page. For a list of pollutants and amounts of each Plant Ben Hill would emit, click here.
Pollution from coal plants can damage the respiratory, cardiovascular, and nervous systems and can cause or worsen a host of illnesses and diseases. A recent study from Physicians for Social Responsibility shows that long-term exposure to low levels of coal pollution contributes to 4 of the top 5 leading causes of death in the U.S.: heart disease, cancer, stroke, and chronic lower respiratory diseases. Particularly vulnerable populations include children, the elderly, and those already suffering from respiratory diseases.
Some of the pollutants released upon combustion of coal include particulate matter, mercury, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and coal ash. Coal ash is such an important topic that it has its own page. For a list of pollutants and amounts of each Plant Ben Hill would emit, click here.
"Power Plant Pollution Kills People" says American Lung Association
American Lung Association - March 2011
Did you know that the coal-fired power plants, found across the country, emit health-threatening toxins into our air every day? Toxins like arsenic, mercury, acid gases and lead. The American Lung Association’s new report Toxic Air: The Case for Cleaning Up Coal-fired Power Plants, reveals the hazardous air pollution emitted from power plants and why now is the time to clean them up and protect our health.
Hazards Revealed
The Lung Association’s report reveals the real public health threat from coal-fired power plants.
“Power plant pollution kills people,” said Charles D. Connor, President and CEO of the American Lung Association. “It threatens the brains and nervous system of children. It can cause cancer, heart attacks and strokes.
“It’s time that we end the ‘toxic loophole’ that has allowed coal-burning power plants to operate without any federal limits on emissions of mercury, arsenic, dioxin, acid gases such as hydrogen chloride and other dangerous pollutants,” said Charles D. Connor, president and CEO of the American Lung Association.
“People living closest to these plants, especially children, seniors, pregnant women and those with chronic disease face the greatest risk, but it doesn’t stop there. Pollution from coal-fired power plants takes flight and travels far into other states—threatening public health.” Read the full report here.
Did you know that the coal-fired power plants, found across the country, emit health-threatening toxins into our air every day? Toxins like arsenic, mercury, acid gases and lead. The American Lung Association’s new report Toxic Air: The Case for Cleaning Up Coal-fired Power Plants, reveals the hazardous air pollution emitted from power plants and why now is the time to clean them up and protect our health.
Hazards Revealed
The Lung Association’s report reveals the real public health threat from coal-fired power plants.
- Coal-fired power plants that sell electricity to the grid produce more hazardous air pollution in the U.S. than any other industrial pollution sources.
- More than 400 coal-fired power plants located in 46 states across the country release more that 386,000 tons of hazardous air pollutants into the atmosphere each year.
- Particle pollution from power plants is estimated to kill approximately 13,000 people a year.
“Power plant pollution kills people,” said Charles D. Connor, President and CEO of the American Lung Association. “It threatens the brains and nervous system of children. It can cause cancer, heart attacks and strokes.
“It’s time that we end the ‘toxic loophole’ that has allowed coal-burning power plants to operate without any federal limits on emissions of mercury, arsenic, dioxin, acid gases such as hydrogen chloride and other dangerous pollutants,” said Charles D. Connor, president and CEO of the American Lung Association.
“People living closest to these plants, especially children, seniors, pregnant women and those with chronic disease face the greatest risk, but it doesn’t stop there. Pollution from coal-fired power plants takes flight and travels far into other states—threatening public health.” Read the full report here.
Particulate Matter (PM)
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Particulate matter (PM) is a complicated mixture of extremely small liquid and/or solid droplets suspended in the air that contain acids (sulfuric acid, nitric acid), heavy metals (mercury, lead), organic chemicals, etc. Coal-fired plants produce PM in several ways: 1) directly, via coal combustion and fugitive dust from the transportation of coal, and 2) indirectly, by the reaction of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide (which are also produced during combustion of coal) in the atmosphere.
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Particulate matter is sometimes categorized into two main groups based on the size of the particle. PM10 is particulate matter whose diameter is less than 10 microns (1 micron is 1 millionth of a meter) and PM2.5 is particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 microns. To put this into perspective, the diameter of a human hair is approximately 50 microns - so five PM10 particles (or twenty PM2.5 particles) would fit across its diameter (see illustration at left). The point is that these particles are microscopic. Individual particles are invisible to the naked eye, but they can be seen collectively as haze. It is when these particles are inhaled that they can cause damage.
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Large particulates (greater than PM10) are filtered out by the hairs in the nose or the mucous lining of our upper respiratory tract. They are prevented from reaching the lungs by actions such as sneezing, coughing, and swallowing. But very small particulate matter (less than PM10) can evade these defense mechanisms and can penetrate deep into the lungs - some even enter the bloodstream. Once in the lungs, they can cause inflammation or degradation of the surrounding tissue. Lung tissue is not regenerative. Any damaged tissue is irreparable and permanently lost.
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Adverse health effects of particulate matter:
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According to Power4Georgian's air permit (for Plant Washington), proposed Plant Ben Hill would pollute 149 lbs of PM per HOUR for approximately 50 years (the average life of a coal plant). That amount is AFTER all of the latest pollution control technology has removed what it can. Imagine thirty 5-lb. bags of flour being thrown into the air EVERY HOUR for 50 years.
For more information about particulate matter and your health, please visit the websites of the American Lung Association and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Additionally, the American Lung Association has published a summary of the adverse health effects of particulate matter reporting that scientific studies show effects below current standards.
For more information about particulate matter and your health, please visit the websites of the American Lung Association and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Additionally, the American Lung Association has published a summary of the adverse health effects of particulate matter reporting that scientific studies show effects below current standards.
Mercury (Hg)
Mercury is naturally present in coal and is released when coal is burned. Mercury leaving the smokestack will eventually make its way into our waterways where bacteria convert it to methyl mercury - an extremely potent neurotoxin. Small microorganisms ingest/absorb the methyl mercury. When small fish eat these microorganisms, they also absorb the methyl mercury present in them as well. As small fish are eaten by medium fish, which are in turn, eaten by larger fish, the methyl mercury accumulates. Subsequently, large fish have the highest concentration of methyl mercury. Humans are at the top of this food web. We like to eat large fish like bass and catfish. Because of the high mercury content in fish across the U.S., the EPA has developed advisories for fish consumption.
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The adverse health effects of mercury are well known. It can harm the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and immune system of people of all ages, but it is particularly devastating to fetuses, infants, and children and can result in:
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Coal plants are the single largest source of mercury pollution. After pollution control technology, proposed Plant Ben Hill would pollute 63 pounds of mercury per year for approximately 50 years. That might not sound like much, but consider this: the Union of Concerned Scientists says that just 1/70th of a teaspoon (0.00315 pounds) of mercury deposited on a 25-acre lake can make the fish unsafe to eat.
To the right is a map of mercury impaired waters in Georgia with proposed Plant Washington and Plant Ben Hill. The majority of mercury emissions falls within a 60-mile radius from its source. Please visit the website of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for more information about mercury and human health, as well as ways to minimize your exposure. |
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Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) and Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
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The combustion of coal produces tremendous amounts of both nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide. Of the family of compounds known as "nitrogen oxides" (NOx), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is the largest component and is of the most concern. Once in the atmosphere, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide can react to produce nitric acid and sulfuric acid, respectively. During wet weather, these acids are washed to the ground in mist, snow, fog, or acid rain, which can impact plants/crops in the region. NO2 and SO2 can also react with ammonia and moisture in the air to form fine acidic particulate matter.
Since one end product of NO2 and SO2 is the formation of particulate matter, these compounds contribute to the adverse health effects associated with particulate matter previously discussed in addition to the following:
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Adverse health effects of NOx:
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Adverse health effects of SO2:
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After pollution control technology, proposed Plant Ben Hill would pollute 2.7 million pounds of NO2 per year and 3.8 million pounds of SO2 per year for approximately 50 years.
Other Pollutants
In addition to the pollutants mentioned above, there are over 100 hazardous air pollutants that would be emitted into our air. Plant Ben Hill would release approximately 60,600 pounds per year of organic hazardous air pollutants (many of which are known carcinogens), 5,400 pounds per year of heavy metals and their compounds, and 15,580 pounds per year of acidic gases (such as hydrogen chloride and hydrogen fluoride). These emissions limits are dictated by the technologies available to control pollution instead of by health risk considerations.
The Toll from Coal
In September 2010, the Clean Air Task Force released a study entitled The Toll from Coal assessing death and disease due to fine particle pollution from coal-fired power plants. Health impacts (such as mortality, heart attacks, asthma attacks, hospital admissions, chronic bronchitis, asthma ER visits) can be viewed by state and county. (Click here for Georgia's stats)
