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Power Plant Emissions and Your Health: Frequently Asked Questions
Explains how substantial quantities of nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide and long term exposure affect your health.
Oct 8, 2003

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How do power plant emissions adversely affect your health?

• Coal-fired power plants release substantial quantities of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) into the air. NOx reacts with sunlight to form smog (ozone); SO2 and NOx combine with ammonia to form soot (fine particulate matter or fine PM for short).
• Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter increases the risk of cardiopulmonary disease, asthma, bronchitis, as well as upper and lower respiratory problems.
• Even after further reductions to meet the full implementation of the Acid Rain Program (which will occur by 2007), emissions from the eight utilities sued by EPA will still result in nearly 6000 premature deaths per year.