Beyond black lung: scientific evidence of health effects from coal use in electricity generation

Article

Authors: Buchanan, Susan ; Burt, Erica ; Orris, Peter

Periodical: Journal of Public Health Policy

Publication date: 2014

Volume: 35

N°: 3

Pages: 266-277

Keywords: air pollution ; cardiovascular diseases ; climate change ; coal ; electric power ; health impact assessment ; lung cancer ; neurological effects ; reproductive hazards

Subject: Occupational diseases

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/jphp.2014.16

Language: English

Illustrations: Bibliogr.

"While access to electricity affects health positively, combustion of coal in power plants causes well-documented adverse health effects. We review respiratory, cardiovascular, reproductive, and neurologic health outcomes associated with exposure to coal-fired power plant emissions. We also discuss population-level health effects of coal combustion and its role in climate change. Our review of scientific studies suggests that those we present here can be used to inform energy policy."

Support: Paper

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