60 Toxic Air Pollutants Released, including the heavy metals of mercury, lead, arsenic, chromium, selenium and manganese. Some of these build up in our land and water and end up in our food chain. Mercury, lead, and arsenic are potent neurotoxins. Dioxin is also released along with other persistent organic pollutants. Persistent organic pollutants take a very long time, decades, to break down in the environment. Coal-burning power plants released 2,625.2 and 2,488.4 pounds of mercury in 2001 and 2002.  Coal-burning electric generating units create air pollution, contribute to acid rain and have local, regional, and global effects.

Nitrogen Oxide, Sulfur Dioxide, Carbon Dioxide, Hydrochloric Acid, and Greenhouse gases released. These cause ground level ozone (smog) and also contribute to the formation of particulate matter. Smog (Ozone) adversely affects the lungs and poses risks to those with heart and lung conditions. Children and the elderly are the most at risk for adverse reactions. It causes inflammation responses in the breathing passages and is an irritant to the eyes and nose.

Particulate Matter: Liquid or solid substances that are suspended into the air comprise particulate matter. Some particles are very fine and others are coarse. Particulate matter is hazardous especially to those with asthma, heart and lung disorders. Children and the elderly are at increased risk. Medical studies have shown that hospitalizations increase in areas where there is air pollution, premature deaths occur from heart and lung diseases, and asthma increases and worsens. The most dangerous particulate matter is fine, as it can lodge in the lungs. PM10 is matter between 2.5 micrometers to 10 micrometers in diameter. Particles stimulate the lung’s inflammatory cells that cause a release of mediators that produce an inflammatory response. This is one mechanism that is thought to cause damage to the heart and blood vessels.

Mercury: The largest emitters of mercury in this country and state are from coal burning power facilities. Mercury can change into methylmercury by interacting with bacteria in water after being deposited from the air or directly discharged into water. It is highly toxic especially to children and women who are pregnant. Most exposures come by dietary means such as fish or game. Effects on a pregnant woman’s baby exposed in the womb are: IQ deficits, developmental disabilities, motor function deficits, abnormal muscle tone, and heart and kidney damage. Childhood and adult exposures also cause central nervous system abnormalities, learning disorders, attention deficits. Medical studies also show a correlation between heart attacks, blood pressure abnormalities and toxicity to kidneys with exposure.

Lead: Highly toxic to central nervous system. May cause irreversible brain damage, damage to kidneys, negative effects on the heart, damage to the reproductive system.

Chromium, Hexavalent- A toxin that causes irritation to the skin, damage to the respiratory system, liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal system and heart, lung cancer.

Arsenic: Toxic on nervous system, negative effects on the gastrointestinal system, blood cells, heart, blood vessels, sensory changes of pins and needles, skin, and respiratory system if inhaled.

Cyanide: Most harmful to the heart and brain than other organs. Exposure can cause: headache, rapid breathing, rapid heart rate, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, restlessness, and weakness. Exposure to large amount can cause convulsions, low blood pressure, and loss of consciousness, lung injury, brain damage, heart damage and respiratory failure leading to death.

Carbon Monoxide: Carbon monoxide can damage the brain and also worsens heart disease. It can also cause death when exposed to it in a poorly ventilated environment.

Acid Raid: Released during the combustion of fossil fuels. Nitrogen Oxide and sulfur dioxide, when released interact with water and oxygen and other chemicals causing acid rain, snow or fog. Acid rain poses risks to the heart and lungs. It plays a role in the development of asthma and bronchitis.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Found in a variety of substances like paints, solvents, adhesives, varnishes, paint thinner, copy machines and printers. These are gases that evaporate and react to sunlight to contribute to ozone formation. Levels of indoor volatile organic compounds are much higher than outdoor. Total volatile organic compounds measurement in the air is used to gauge the amount of indoor volatile organic compounds. Release of outdoor volatile organic compounds into the air can be brought in by air intake systems, such as air conditioning. Health effects can include: headache, loss of coordination, nausea, kidney and liver damage. Benzene, methylene chloride, perchlorothene, and toluene are some examples of volatile organic compounds. Some volatile organic compounds have been identified as cancer causing agents and causing birth defects.

Benzene: Can pass into the air from water and soil. Can also attach to rain and snow and be carried back to the ground. Long-term exposures can affect the bone marrow, red blood cells and immune system. It is a known carcinogen. Acute exposures can cause death.

Toluene: Known carcinogen. High amounts can cause kidney damage. Breathing vapors may cause damage to the nervous system. May cause birth defects when pregnant women breathe the vapors.

Waste from Coal Combustion Consists primarily of uncombustible mineral matter MORE INFORMATION

Carbon Dioxide Carbon dioxide is formed when fuels containing carbon are burnt, and is a significant greenhouse gas. Progressively reducing CO2 is an essential element of a global response to the risks of global warming and climate change.

Risks to Animals/Humans Coal Power & Wastewater Create Toxic Fish. The pollutants from the coal power plants seep into lakes and rivers, where fish concentrate the pollution within their bodies. Known as bioaccumulation, even dilute pollution over time can be concentrated to toxic levels in an organism. The toxins concentrated in fish can cause serious health problems for those anglers who eat their catch. Mercury is an insidious toxin, passing through the normal barriers and defenses our body has against intruders. Mercury binds and holds onto important enzymes and neurotransmitters throughout our body. The malfunctioning of these enzymes and neurotransmitters interferes with important bodily functions that contributes to a range of neurological disorders such as insomnia, shyness, memory loss, emotional instability, depression, anorexia, vasomotor disturbance, uncontrolled perspiration, and blushing. Chronic exposure can lead to life threatening conditions such as renal failure, and severe dementia.

References:

Michigan Mercury Electric Utility Workgroup Final Report on Mercury Emissions, 2005 http://www.deq.state.mi.us/documents/deq-aqd-air-aqe-mercury-report.pdf

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Public Health Statement on Mercury http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/phs46.html#bookmark02

DEQ Mercury Homepage: http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3307-184041--,00.html

Harvard Public Health Report Quantifies Impact from Two Massachusetts Power Plants http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/archives/2000-releases/press05042000.html

Report Finds Mercury Contamination Permeates Wildlife Systems http://www.speciation.net/Public/News/2006/09/23/2410.html

Chinese Coal Plants Cause Health Problems Around the World, CNN 11/13/07 http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/11/13/pip.coal.ap/

American Lung Association State of the Air 2005 http://lungaction.org/reports/sota05_full.html

Toxicological Effects of Methyl mercury, National Acadamies Press 2000 http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=9899#description

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Mercury http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts46.html

Scientific Consensus on Environmental Agents Associated with Neurodevelopmental Disorders 2007 http://www.iceh.org/pdfs/LDDI/LDDIStatement.pdf

Beyond Mercury http://www.pewtrusts.org/uploadedFiles/wwwpewtrustsorg/Reports/Global_warming/env_beyond_mercury_0804.pdf

Proposed Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), Docket ID Number EPA –HQ-OAR-2001-0017, 4/17/2006, http://www.apha.org/NR/rdonlyres/4E53185B-99D7-4716-9E05-1A6D451AF96D/0/hlthGrpLtrFinal.pdf

Testimony to US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works: Particulate Matter http://epw.senate.gov/107th/Samet_100202.htm

Arnold School of Public Health- Even low Levels of Pollution can have adverse effects on Asthma sufferers 2007 http://www.sph.sc.edu/news/asthma.htm

American Lung Association Particulate Matter http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=35356

Ontario Medical Association Ozone Position Paper http://www.oma.org/phealth/ground.htm

Ambient Air Pollution Health Hazards to Children American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement 2004 http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/pediatrics;114/6/1699.pdf

Air Pollution Increases Death Risk to People with Diabetes, Heart Failure, COPD and Rheumatoid Arthritis, American Thoracic Society http://www.thoracic.org/sections/publications/press-releases/conference/articles/air-pollution-increases-death-risk-in-people-with-diabetes-heart-failure-copd-or-rheumatoid-arthritis.html

Fine Particulate Air Pollution and Hospital Admission for Cardiovascular and Respiratory Diseases, Journal of American Medical Association 2006 http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/295/10/1127

Ozone and Short Term Mortality in 95 US Urban Communities 1994 - 2000, Journal of American Medical Association 2004 http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/292/19/2372

Systemic Microvascular Dysfunction and Inflammation after Pulmonary Particulate Matter Exposure, Environmental Health Perspectives 2006, March 2006 http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1392236

Air Pollution and Cardiovascular Disease: A Statement for Healthcare Professionals from the Expert Panel on Population and Prevention Science of the American Heart Association http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/109/21/2655

CDC Facts About Cyanide http://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/cyanide/basics/facts.asp

Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, Renewable Energy Trust, Glossary http://www.masstech.org/cleanenergy/energy/glossaryAtoC.htm

Massachusetts Technology collaborative, Renewable Energy Trust, Glossary Environmental Issues http://masstech.org/cleanenergy/energy/glossaryenvironment.htm

EPA Organic Volatile Compounds http://www.epa.gov/iaq/voc.html

VOCs a Major Contributor of Indoor Pollution, Aeris Air Quality Sciences, IAQ Resource Center http://www.aerias.org/DesktopModules/ArticleDetail.aspx?articleID=131

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, Persistent Organic Pollutants http://www.cape.ca/toxics/pops.html

EPA Persistent Organic Pollutants, A Global Issue, A Global Response: http://www.epa.gov/oia/toxics/pop.htm

CERCLA Priority List of Hazardous Substances, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 2007 http://www.epa.gov/oia/toxics/pop.htm

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Benzene http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts3.html

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Toluene http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts3.html

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Factsheet, CDC http://www.cdc.gov/co/faqs.htm

Carbon Monoxide, Health and Environmental Impacts http://epa.gov/air/urbanair/co/hlth1.html