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Industrial plant emissions linked to health hazards, study reveals
A recent study highlights the severe health and economic impacts of flaring and venting at industrial plants, including premature deaths and exacerbated asthma cases.
In short:
- Flaring and venting activities at industrial plants are causing significant health issues, including asthma exacerbations in children and about 710 premature deaths annually.
- The study, involving researchers from Boston University and others, found that these practices cost the U.S. approximately $7.4 billion each year in health damages.
- Texas, Pennsylvania, and Colorado are the top states affected by these emissions, impacting nearly half a million Americans living close to oil and gas facilities.
Key quote:
“We know that PM 2.5 is bad for health, we know that ozone is bad for health, but to see the amount of asthma exacerbations that were attributed to nitrogen dioxide, I think that was surprising to us.”
— Erin Polka, a doctoral student in the Department of Environmental Health at Boston University’s School of Public Health
Why this matters:
Industrial plant emissions are a significant concern for both environmental health and public well-being, contributing to a range of issues that affect ecosystems, air quality, and human health. In 2020, researchers linked air pollution from burning off excess natural gas to preterm births for babies, with the most pronounced impacts among Hispanic families.
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The contract with the incinerator operator expires in April 2022, setting up a showdown between Chester residents and Covanta.
www.nytimes.com
New research links air pollution to higher coronavirus death rates
A nationwide study has found that counties with even slightly higher levels of long-term air pollution are seeing larger numbers of Covid-19 deaths.
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Connecticut experts offer tips to help cut wood-smoke pollution from fireplaces, stoves
There's nothing like a cozy wood fire on a cold winter night, but state experts say people need to use “best burn" precautions to limit wood smoke pollution.
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Animal agriculture costs more in health damage than it contributes to the economy
As with the climate, the chief culprit is meat and dairy. But when it comes to particulate pollution, the worst offender is poultry.
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Climate change poses threats to children's health worldwide
A study from the Lancet points to infectious diseases, worsening air pollution, rising temperatures and even malnutrition as threats to child health as the climate changes.
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