• 02
  • August
    2011

Power plants in Georgia, as well as in 27 other states throughout the United States, create more air pollution than any other single source. The worst industrial offenders are oil- and coal-fired power plants, according to an analysis recently published by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

"Power plants are the biggest industrial toxic air polluters in our country, putting children and families at risk by dumping deadly and dangerous poisons into the air we breathe," said Climate Center Director Dan Lashof of the NRDC.

"Poisonous Power Threatens the Health of Our Kids and Families"

Air pollution can lead to toxic exposure to dangerous chemicals. Coal pollution particularly, is "America's biggest source of toxic air pollution," stated Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR), Dr. Lynn Ringenberg.

Reductions in toxic pollution, as required by a new standard expected to be made final in November called 'Mercury and Air Toxics,' are estimated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to save 17,000 lives per year by 2015. The costs of air pollution can also be measured in saved hospital visits and lost work days, estimated at 12,000 and 850,000 respectively.

Air pollutants are closely-linked to rising instances of asthma in children. According to EPA estimates, up to 120,000 children would be saved from experiencing asthma symptoms if the new reduction standards are implemented.

"Air toxics from coal-fired power plants cause cancer, birth defects, and respiratory illness. Just one of those air toxics, mercury, damages the developing brains of fetuses, infants, and small children," continued Dr. Ringenberg.

The NRDC and PSR released a list of the top 20 toxic states and accompanying analysis, entitled, "Toxic Power: How Power Plants Contaminate Our Air and States." Data for the study was available through the EPA's Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). The TRI is composed of emissions data that is self-reported by the industry.

Source: NRDC Press Release, "Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida Lead List of "Toxic 20" States with Most Toxic Air Pollution from Power Plants"