A study in the journal Environmental Science and Technology examines exposure and mortality by race and income all across the U.S. They used the latest available data on power plant emissions, and census and health data to determine deaths from fine particulates (PM2.5). They also looked at PM2.5 emissions by state, and where deaths occurred.
They found that exposure to PM2.5 from power plants is highest for blacks, followed by non-Latino whites. The rate of mortality was also highest for blacks, followed by non-Latino whites. There were race disparities within each income group, showing that race/ethnicity differences are still there even when accounting for income levels. There were 36 states where most of the health impacts could be attributed to emissions in other states.
The lead author, Maninder Thind at University of Washington, stated that the disparities can result from where people live in relation to power plants. (This could be how close people live to a power plant, or whether they live downwind.) He also hopes the study will raise a voice for environmental justice issues.
Federal rules on cross-state pollution are triggered when states are not in attainment, but most states are in attainment so the rules aren’t triggered. The fact that the rules are still allowing deaths in other states, and that so many deaths could be linked to power plants, means that the standards need to be stronger.
Please let your state and federal legislators know about these findings. We will keep you updated whenever EPA is taking comments.
News article about the study: https://energynews.us/2019/12/11/midwest/study-black-low-income-americans-face-highest-risk-from-power-plant-pollution/
Link to the scientific study: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.9b02527
