Association between county-level coal-fired power plant pollution and racial disparities in preterm births from 2000 to 2018

Abstract

Coal has historically been a primary energy source in the United States (U.S.). The byproducts of coal combustion, such as fine particulate matter (PM2.5), have increasingly been associated with adverse birth outcomes. The goal of this study was to leverage the current progressive transition away from coal in the U.S. to assess whether coal PM2.5 is associated with preterm birth (PTB) rates and whether this association differs by maternal Black/White race/ethnicity. Using a novel dispersion modeling approach, we estimated PM2.5 pollution from coal-fired power plants nationwide at the county-level during the study period (2000–2018). We also obtained county-level PTB rates for non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black mothers. We used a generalized additive mixed model to estimate the relationship between coal PM2.5 and PTB rates, overall and stratified by maternal race. We included a natural spline to allow for non-linearity in the concentration–response curve. We observed a positive non-linear relationship between coal PM2.5 and PTB rate, which plateaued at higher levels of pollution. We also observed differential associations by maternal race; the association was stronger for White women, especially at higher levels of coal PM2.5 (>2.0 μg m−3). Our findings suggest that the transition away from coal may reduce PTB rates in the U.S.

Private and External Costs and Benefits of Replacing High-Emitting Peaker Plants with Batteries

“…Additionally, peaker plants can place a disproportionate environmental burden on historically marginalized groups. 72 − 74 For example, the Hanford 2 peaker plant sits in a census tract where the PM 2.5 concentrations are in the 99th percentile for the United States and nearly half of the population is Hispanic or Latino. 75 Based on our analysis, this plant is potentially the most profitable target for replacement with a BESS.…”

“…These findings are consistent with prior studies. ,, However, given the limited size of the frequency regulation market and the forecasted growth of energy storage in California, the value of frequency regulation may decrease in the future. ,,, A remaining question is whether the social benefits of energy storage can compensate for the declining value of frequency regulation. Additionally, peaker plants can place a disproportionate environmental burden on historically marginalized groups. − For example, the Hanford 2 peaker plant sits in a census tract where the PM 2.5 concentrations are in the 99th percentile for the United States and nearly half of the population is Hispanic or Latino . Based on our analysis, this plant is potentially the most profitable target for replacement with a BESS.…”

Urban Air Pollution and Emergency Department Visits for Cardiac and Respiratory Diseases

“…Individuals may be affected by numerous sources of pollution that may not be registered by an ambient air pollution monitor, such as their proximity to traffic [31][32][33]. Other sources of exposures which affect human health are cooking emissions [34][35][36], power plants emissions [37], wildfires [38], and air pollutants generated from active and passive tobacco smoke [39].…”

Sulfur dioxide reduction at coal-fired power plants in North Carolina and associations with preterm birth among surrounding residents

“…16 Among a growing body of literature evaluating associations between pregnant people living near power plants and adverse birth outcomes, all nine studies (with seven studies located in the United States: California, Florida, New Jersey, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and eastern region of the United States) suggest adverse associations. 15,[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] However, few of these studies focus specifically on CFPPs and PTB, and none are based in NC.…”