Disparities in Distribution of Particulate Matter Emissions from US Coal-Fired Power Plants by Race and Poverty Status After Accounting for Reductions in Operations Between 2015 and 2017

• Published in: American journal of public health (1971) 2020-05, Vol.110 (5), p.655-661
• Main Authors: Richmond-Bryant, Jennifer, Mikati, Ihab, Benson, Adam F, Luben, Thomas J, Sacks, Jason D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - analysis; Air pollution; Air Pollution - analysis; AJPH Climate Change; Closures; Coal; Coal-fired power plants; Emission inventories; Environmental Exposure - analysis; Ethnic groups; Ethnicity; Ethnicity - statistics & numerical data; Fossil fuels; Hispanic people; Humans; Inhalation Exposure - analysis; Inventory; Minority & ethnic groups; Monte Carlo Method; Other Environment; Other Race/Ethnicity; Outdoor air quality; Particulate emissions; Particulate matter; Particulate Matter - analysis; Policy making; Poverty; Poverty - statistics & numerical data; Power plants; Power Plants - statistics & numerical data; Public health; Race; Racial Groups - statistics & numerical data; Residence Characteristics; Subgroups
• ISSN: 0090-0036; 1541-0048
• DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2019.305558

To investigate potential changes in burdens from coal-fired electricity-generating units (EGU s) that emit fine particulate matter (PM , defined as matter with a nominal mean aerodynamic diameter of ≤ 2.5 µm) among racial/ethnic and economic groups after reduction of operations in 92 US EGU s. PM burdens calculated for EGUs listed in the 2008, 2011, and 2014 National Emissions Inventory were recalculated for 2017 after omitting emissions from 92 EGU s. The combined influence of race/ethnicity and poverty on burden estimates was characterized. Omission of 92 EGU s decreased PM burdens attributable to EGUs by 8.6% for the entire population and to varying degrees for every population subgroup. Although the burden decreased across all subgroups, the decline was not equitable. After omission of the 92 EGU s, burdens were highest for the below-poverty and non-White subgroups. Proportional disparities between White and non-White subgroups increased. In our combined analysis, the burden was highest for the non-White-high-poverty subgroup. Our results indicate that subgroups living in poverty experience the greatest absolute burdens from EGU s. Changes as a result of EGU closures suggest a shift in burden from White to non-White subgroups. Policymakers could use burden analyses to jointly promote equity and reduce emissions.