COAL AND THE DAMAGE DONE

Coal Pollution Damages Human Health at Every Stage of Coal Life Cycle, Reports Physicians for Social Responsibility
November 18, 2009 (Physicians for Social Responsibility)

"...[Coal's Assault on Human Health, from Physicians for Social Responsibility,] takes a new look at the devastating impacts of coal on the human body. By examining the impact of coal pollution on the major organ systems of the human body, the report concludes that coal contributes to four of the top five causes of mortality in the U.S. and is responsible for increasing the incidence of major diseases already affecting large portions of the U.S. population...

"…Coal combustion releases mercury, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and dozens of other substances known to be hazardous to human health. This report looks at the cumulative harm inflicted…on three major body organ systems…[and] considers coal's contribution to global warming, and the health implications… [I]n this way, the totality of coal's impact on health becomes clear. Coal pollutants affect all major body organ systems and contribute to four of the five leading causes of mortality in the U.S.: heart disease, cancer, stroke, and chronic lower respiratory diseases."

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"...[1] Respiratory Effects…[include] asthma, lung disease and lung cancer, and adversely affect normal lung development in children….[2] Cardiovascular Effects…lead to cardiovascular disease, such as arterial occlusion (artery blockages, leading to heart attacks) and infarct formation…leading to permanent heart damage…[and] cardiac arrhythmias and congestive heart failure. Exposure to chronic air pollution over many years increases cardiovascular mortality…[3] Nervous System Effects: Studies show a correlation between coal-related air pollutants and stroke….[and] loss of intellectual capacity, primarily through mercury…[B]etween 317,000 and 631,000 children are born in the U.S. each year with blood mercury levels high enough to reduce IQ scores and cause lifelong loss of intelligence.

"Global Warming: Even people who do not develop illnesses from coal pollutants will find their health and wellbeing impacted…The discharge of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere associated with burning coal is a major contributor to global warming and [leads to] adverse effects on health and wellbeing worldwide, such as heat stroke, malaria, declining food production, scarce water supplies, social conflict and starvation."

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"…[T]he report [also] pinpoints negative health consequences at each step of the coal life cycle. Coal mining leads U.S. industries in fatal injuries and is associated with chronic health problems among miners…[C]ommunities near coal mines may be adversely affected by mining operations due to the effects of blasting, washing, leakage from "slurry ponds," the collapse of abandoned mines, damage done to streams and waterways, and the dispersal of dust from coal trucks during transportation. Slurry injected underground can release arsenic, barium, lead and manganese into nearby wells, contaminating local drinking water supplies. The storage of post-combustion wastes from coal plants also threatens human health. There are 584 coal ash dump sites in the U.S, and toxic residues have migrated into water supplies at dozens of sites. While every stage of the coal life cycle impacts human health, the combustion phase exacts the greatest toll…

"…PSR issued five policy recommendations:…[1] Cut emissions of carbon dioxide as deeply and as swiftly as possible…to 350 parts per million, through 1)…legislation that establishes hard caps on global warming pollution coming from coal power plants, and 2) strict enforcement of the Clean Air Act…[2] Reduce fossil fuel power plant emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides…[3] Establish a standard, based on Maximum Achievable Control Technology, for mercury and other hazardous air pollutant emissions from electrical generation…[4] End all new construction of coal-fired power plants…[5] Develop the capacity to generate electricity from clean, safe, renewable sources so that existing coal-fired power plants may be phased out…"