Charleston Gazette-Mailreporter Mike Tony details federal data showing that asthma and low life expectancy are highly prevalent in communities around West Virginia’s coal-fired power plants. In a nutshell:A study revealed that adverse health impacts in West Virginia were linked to five coal-fired plants, resulting in an estimated 266 deaths and 106 heart attacks in 2019. The EPA's proposal for carbon pollution standards has stirred controversy, with critics arguing it could force plant closures and compromise grid reliability. There are also concerns about shortened life expectancy and adverse developmental effects, particularly in children, as a result of prolonged exposure to the harmful emissions from coal-fired plants. For example, Brian Bienkowski wrote in 2018 about two studies that showed significantly fewer health risks for babies after nearby coal plants closed.

Source: Washington Post August 13, 2023 19:05 UTC