Health and Air Quality Benefits of Policies to Reduce Coal-Fired Power Plant Emissions: A Case Study in North Carolina

Abstract

We analyzed sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions and fine particulate sulfate (PM2.5 sulfate) concentrations in the southeastern United States during 2002-2012, in order to evaluate the health impacts in North Carolina (NC) of the NC Clean Smokestacks Act of 2002. This state law required progressive reductions (beyond those mandated by federal rules) in pollutant emissions from NC's coal-fired power plants. Although coal-fired power plants remain NC's leading SO2 source, a trend analysis shows significant declines in SO2 emissions (-20.3%/year) and PM2.5 sulfate concentrations (-8.7%/year) since passage of the act. Emissions reductions were significantly greater in NC than in neighboring states, and emissions and PM2.5 sulfate concentration reductions were highest in NC's piedmont region, where 9 of the state's 14 major coal-fired power plants are located. Our risk model estimates that these air quality improvements decreased the risk of premature death attributable to PM2.5 sulfate in NC by about 63%, resulting in an estimated 1700 (95% CI: 1500, 1800) deaths prevented in 2012. These findings lend support to recent studies predicting that implementing the proposed federal Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (recently upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court) could substantially decrease U.S. premature deaths attributable to coal-fired power plant emissions.

Air Quality in Association With Rural Coal Mining and Combustion in New South Wales Australia

“…Of particular interest for the current study are the possible contributions from coal mining and coal combustion. Globally, there is an extensive body of literature that has established the air polluting effects of coal power generation . To a lesser extent, the effects of surface mining for coal on air pollution have also been reported internationally …”

The Health Impacts of Environmental Policy

“…States during 2002 through 2012 [6]. Their trend analysis showed that significant declines in SO 2 (-20.3%/year) and PM 2.5 sulfate concentrations (-8.7%/year) since passage of the Clean Smokestacks Act were correlated with the risk model estimates showing decreased risk of premature death attributable to PM 2.5 sulfate in North Carolina by about 63%, resulting in an estimated 1,700 (95%CI = 1500-1800) deaths prevented in 2012.…”

Can the Air Pollution Index be used to communicate the health risks of air pollution?

“…Air pollution remains a critical global health and justice problem. A significant proportion of premature deaths and admissions may be avoidable by reducing air pollution (EPA, 2011;Li and Gibson, 2014;Tang et al, 2014).…”