Respiratory diseases, racial disparities, and residential proximity to coal power plants in Wisconsin, USA: a cross-sectional study

The burning of fossil fuels, including coal, is the primary source of greenhouse gas emissions driving anthropogenic climate change and its associated health harms: heat-related illnesses, arboviral diseases, trauma from extreme weather events, allergies, and chronic disease exacerbations. Coal-fire...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Lancet global health 2021-03, Vol.9, p.S19-S19
Main Authors: Hii, Michael, Beyer, Kirsten, Namin, Sima, Malecki, Kristen, Schultz, Amy, Rublee, Caitlin
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:The burning of fossil fuels, including coal, is the primary source of greenhouse gas emissions driving anthropogenic climate change and its associated health harms: heat-related illnesses, arboviral diseases, trauma from extreme weather events, allergies, and chronic disease exacerbations. Coal-fired power plants (CFPP) supply 23% of electricity in the USA and 42% for the state of Wisconsin. Air pollution from CFPP has been associated with respiratory diseases, cancers, cardiovascular and neurological disorders, especially for vulnerable populations. In this cross-sectional study, we aim to measure associations between respiratory diseases and residential proximity to CFPP. We obtained cross-sectional, population-based health data for non-institutionalised, non-active-duty adults from the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin database from 2008 to 2013. Pulmonary function was measured by spirometry as a ratio of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) to forced vital capacity (FVC). An average of three or more FEV1/FVC readings
ISSN:2214-109X
2214-109X
DOI:10.1016/S2214-109X(21)00127-3