Respiratory Function and Racial Health Disparities With Residential Proximity to Coal Power Plants in Wisconsin. WMJ 2022 Jul;121(2):94-105
Date
07/26/2022Pubmed ID
35877032Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85135282540 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 1 CitationAbstract
BACKGROUND: Burning fossil fuels, including coal, is the primary source of greenhouse gas emissions driving anthropogenic climate change and its associated health harms. Coal-fired power plants supply 23% of electricity nationally and 42% for Wisconsin, contributing to air pollution and associated respiratory diseases, cancers, and cardiovascular and neurologic disorders, especially for vulnerable populations. Authors seek to quantify residential distance from coal-fired power plants, pulmonary function of Wisconsin residents, and demographics.
METHODS: Data from 2,327 adults aged 21-74 years was obtained from the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin database from 2008 through 2013. Pulmonary function was measured by expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) as a ratio of FEV1/FVC. An average of at least 3 FEV1/FVC readings less than 80% was considered abnormal.
RESULTS: Adults living near 1 of 11 coal-fired power plants may have worse pulmonary function. The odds ratio of FEV1/FVC values below 80% for those living within 35 km of a coal-fired power plant was 1.24 (95% CI, 0.90-1.70) when compared to those living greater than 35 km from a plant. While Black individuals made up 4.8% of the total sample population, they accounted for 13.3% of individuals living within 35 km of coal-fired power plants. Similarly, Hispanic populations accounted for 4.8% of those living within 35 km of a plant, while making up 2.8% of the sample population.
INTERPRETATION: Significant disparities were found in residential proximity to Wisconsin coal-fired power plants for Black and Hispanic populations, with trends that support worse pulmonary function when living within 35 km of these plants. When linked with socioeconomic and racial/ethnic factors, closing down coal-fired power plants becomes a necessity to reduce disparities and address environmental injustices.
Author List
Hii M, Beyer K, Namin S, Malecki K, Rublee CAuthor
Kirsten M. Beyer PhD, MS, MPH Professor in the Institute for Health and Humanity department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultAir Pollutants
Air Pollution
Coal
Humans
Power Plants
Wisconsin
