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Regional Environmental Council of Central Massachusetts
P.O. Box 255
Worcester, MA 01613
Tel: 508-799-9139
Fax: 508-799-9147
Email: recouncil[at]recworcester.org
Location: 9 Castle St #1
Worcester, MA 01610
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| Health Risks of "Dirty Energy" |
| Source: green-e.org |
| Electricity production is the leading cause of industrial air pollution in the United States. Air pollution comes in the form of smog, soot, acid rain, carbon dioxide, and mercury and particulate matter. According to the American Lung Association, scientists have estimated that the number of deaths in the United States associated with air pollution range from 50,000 to 100,000 per year. For every 75 of these deaths per year, there are 265 hospital admissions for asthma and 240 non-asthma respiratory admissions; 3,500 respiratory emergency doctor visits; 180,000 asthma attacks; 930,000 restricted activity days; and, 2,000,000 acute respiratory symptom days. |
| An EPA study found that for every dollar that we have spent on pollution controls since 1970, we have gained $45 in health and environmental benefits: fewer doctor visits, fewer work days lost, fewer hospitalizations, and fewer premature deaths. According to the World Watch Institute, implementing climate policies that will reduce our air pollution could prevent at least 8 million deaths in the next 2 decades. |
| Power plants, cars, and industry all contribute to air pollution. Click on the links below to see what electricity generation contributes. |
How electricity generation affects your healthSpecific pollutants caused by electricity generationGlobal warming and electricity generationHow electricity generation affects our environment |
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| Last Updated 02/21/08 |
