Kiera Jefferson
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 99% of the global population lives in areas where the air pollution levels exceed their air quality guidelines. Each year, around 7 million people die prematurely from diseases and infections related to air pollution. The main sources of air pollution include power plants, industrial activities, transportation, waste burning, and construction sites. The pollutants with the most severe health impacts include particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2). PM2.5, which refers to fine particles with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less, is of particular concern as it can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, increasing the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory issues, as well as cancer. Aside from air pollution, other significant pollution problems include contaminated water, radioactive waste, mercury emissions, and lead exposure from battery recycling.
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What You'll Learn
Power plants burning coal and gas
Burning fossil fuels, such as coal and gas, in power plants creates emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), carbon dioxide (CO2), mercury (Hg), and other pollutants. These emissions have been linked to serious health and environmental issues, with around 7 million people dying annually from diseases and infections related to air pollution.
Coal-burning power plants are a significant source of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution, which has been associated with an increased risk of mortality. PM2.5 particles are 2.5 microns or less in diameter and are invisible to the naked eye, but they can be noticed as particle smog in highly polluted areas. These particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, causing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular issues, as well as increasing the risk of lung cancer and other respiratory problems. Research has found that for every 1 μg/m3 increase in coal PM2.5, mortality risk rises by 1.12%, which is more than twice the risk associated with general PM2.5 exposure.
Coal PM2.5 is particularly harmful due to its high content of sulfur dioxide, black carbon, and metals. From 1999 to 2020, it is estimated that 460,000 deaths could have been prevented in the absence of emissions from coal power plants. However, there has been a notable decline in deaths attributed to coal PM2.5 over time, thanks to the retirement of coal power plants and the implementation of air pollution regulations. For instance, the installation of pollution control technology, such as emissions scrubbers, has effectively reduced the number of associated deaths.
Gas power plants, particularly those burning natural gas, also contribute to air pollution. Natural gas primarily consists of methane, which is a significant short-lived climate pollutant. Methane contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone, which is a strong greenhouse gas and a major driver of global warming. While methane emissions from active and abandoned coal mines are a concern, the burning of natural gas in power plants adds to the overall methane emissions, exacerbating climate change and its associated impacts.
The impacts of power plant emissions can be felt both locally and at great distances, affecting air quality in communities near and far from the sources of pollution. Understanding the effects of individual power plants can aid in the development of targeted policies to mitigate health risks and improve air quality, as seen with the success of emissions reductions in reducing mortality rates.
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Particulate matter (PM)
PM is not a single pollutant but a mixture of many chemical species. It is a complex mixture of solids and aerosols composed of small droplets of liquid, dry solid fragments, and solid cores with liquid coatings. Particles vary widely in size, shape, and chemical composition and may contain inorganic ions, metallic compounds, elemental carbon, organic compounds, and compounds from the earth’s crust.
PM2.5 refers to fine particles that are 2.5 microns or less in diameter. They are invisible to the naked eye, though noticeable as particle smog in highly polluted areas, and present indoors and out. PM2.5 particles come from combusting unclean fuels for cooking or heating, burning waste and agriculture residue, industrial activities, transportation, and windblown dust, among other sources. They can be emitted directly or formed in the atmosphere from several different emitted pollutants, such as ammonia and volatile organic compounds.
PM10 refers to particles with a diameter of 10 microns or less, which are inhalable into the lungs and can induce adverse health effects. PM2.5 comprises a portion of PM10, and they often derive from different emission sources and have different chemical compositions. Short-term exposures to PM10 have been associated primarily with the worsening of respiratory diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), leading to hospitalization and emergency department visits.
In 2013, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified PM as a cause of lung cancer. It is also the most widely used indicator for assessing the health effects of exposure to air pollution. According to the World Health Organization's Global Burden of Disease Project, PM2.5 is associated with the greatest proportion of adverse health effects related to air pollution, both in the United States and worldwide. An update to this analysis using ambient air quality data from 2014-2016 indicated that PM2.5 exposure contributes to 5,400 premature deaths due to cardiopulmonary causes per year in California.
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Carbon monoxide (CO)
CO is a significant health concern, and exposure to it can lead to poisoning. Since it is invisible to our senses, dangerous concentrations of the gas can build up indoors without detection until someone becomes ill. The early signs of CO poisoning are often ignored as they are similar to the flu, including a mild headache and breathlessness with moderate exercise. However, at moderate concentrations, angina, impaired vision, and reduced brain function may occur. At higher concentrations, CO exposure can be fatal.
CO is also a key ingredient in many industrial chemistry processes and is important in the production of many compounds, including drugs, fragrances, and fuels.
To prevent CO poisoning, simple actions such as installing a CO alarm and maintaining fuel-burning appliances can be taken. Additionally, items such as camp stoves, charcoal grills, fuel-burning lanterns, and generators should never be used inside a tent, RV, or cabin.
CO is one of the pollutants with the strongest evidence for public health concerns, along with particulate matter (PM), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2).
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Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
NO2 primarily enters the air through the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, methane gas (natural gas), or diesel at high temperatures. It is also produced from burning natural gas, both outdoors and indoors. Human-made sources in the US emit millions of short tons of nitrogen oxides per year, mainly from burning fuels. Trucks, buses, and cars are the largest sources of NO2 emissions, followed by diesel-powered non-road equipment, industrial processes, and coal-fired power plants.
Monitors show the highest concentrations of outdoor NO2 in large urban regions, with levels higher on or near heavily traveled roadways. Indoors, appliances such as stoves, dryers, and space heaters that burn natural gas or liquified petroleum gas can produce substantial amounts of NO2. If these appliances are not fully vented, levels of NO2 can build up to unhealthy levels indoors.
Breathing air with high concentrations of NO2 can irritate the airways in the human respiratory system. Short-term exposure can aggravate respiratory diseases, especially asthma, leading to coughing, wheezing, or difficulty breathing, and hospital admissions. Longer exposures to elevated NO2 concentrations may contribute to the development of asthma and potentially increase susceptibility to respiratory infections. Scientific evidence suggests that exposure to NO2 could likely cause asthma in children.
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Black carbon
The health impacts of PM2.5 air pollution are severe and include premature death in adults with heart and lung disease, strokes, heart attacks, and chronic respiratory diseases. It is estimated that approximately 4 million deaths each year are associated with long-term exposure to PM2.5 air pollution. Black carbon particulate matter contains very fine carcinogens, making it particularly harmful to human health.
The good news is that black carbon emissions have been decreasing in many developed countries due to stricter air quality regulations and improved practices. Measures such as adopting cleaner household energy sources, improving fuel and vehicle standards, and reducing open burning in the agriculture sector have contributed to this positive trend. By continuing to implement regulations, improve efficiency, and electrify vehicles, black carbon emissions are expected to continue declining, bringing about significant climate and health benefits.
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Frequently asked questions
The number one pollutants are those that have the strongest evidence for public health concern. These include particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2).
Particulate matter (PM) is composed of inhalable particles such as sulfate, nitrates, ammonia, sodium chloride, black carbon, mineral dust, or water. The greatest sources of PM around the home are the combustion of polluting fuels in open hearths or poorly vented, inefficient stoves or space heaters. Other indoor activities that produce PM include cooking, space heating, lighting, preparing animal fodder, heating water for bathing, and brewing beverages. Outdoor sources of PM include traffic, transportation, industrial activities, power plants, construction sites, waste burning, fires, and fields.
Particulate matter, especially PM10 and PM2.5, can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, causing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular issues and increasing the risk of dying from heart and lung disease, stroke, and cancer. Both long-term and short-term exposure to PM are associated with morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Long-term exposure has also been linked to adverse perinatal outcomes and lung cancer.
The United States' biggest sources of pollution are its power plants, which emit more greenhouse gas pollution than some entire states. The James H. Miller Jr. Power Plant in Quinton, Alabama, is the number one greenhouse gas polluter in the country, releasing over 21 million metric tons of GHGs in 2022. The Jim Bridger Power Plant in Wyoming and the Craig Facility in Colorado are also among the top polluters in the nation.
