HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Particulate Matter
When fuel is burned at extremely high heat it breaks down into microscopic particles which are orders of magnitude smaller than the dust or soot we normally encounter. These tiny particles pass beyond the body’s defense mechanisms and lodge deep within lung tissue. They are responsible for the majority of health problems associated with particle pollution. They are called PM 10 and PM 2.5. The number represents the top size in microns of particles in each category.
- Picture of PM 10 and 2.5 particles relative to a human hair.
- Dirty Air, Dirty Power: [Recommended] This report presents a detailed study of the health effects and costs due to particulate matter pollution from coal plants, including the following summary of annual health effects from PM pollution.
- “Research indicates that air pollution in the form of particulate matter, or PM, at concentrations currently allowed by national standards (the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, or NAAQS) is linked to thousands of excess deaths and widespread health problems. Part of the EPA’s mission is to protect human health by strengthening the scientific basis of air quality regulations.” www.epa.gov/nheerl/research/pm
- American Lung Association on Particulate Matter. “Studies showing the dangers of particle pollution are pouring in by the thousands. More than 2,000 peer-reviewed studies on the subject have been published since 1996, when the EPA last reviewed the standards for particle pollution. The new studies validate the research done before 1996, showing the strong relationship between particle pollution, illness, hospitalization and premature death.”
- Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM): “… a significant percentage of the eight-state region's population is potentially susceptible to PM2.5, including 38% of the total population… More than 70% of the child, adult, and elderly population age groups in the study area live in urban areas that experience elevated PM2.5 concentrations and heightened exposure scenarios.” Full Study.
- Dirty air is as bad for kids as smoking. Air pollution is just as damaging to children’s lungs as smoking cigarettes. That's according to the University of Southern California's medical school. In a recent study, researchers found that children who moved to places with cleaner air showed improved lung development, while those who moved to places with dirtier air had reduced lung development. Researchers compared these findings to a previous study that measured the reduction in lung development among children who smoked. They found the effects of air pollution on children's lungs were similar to the effects of smoking. Imagine if the Surgeon General required a notice on your electric bill that coal-fired electricity is as damaging to your children as smoking. News article.