Abstract
Coal-based energy production is the most utilized method of electricity production worldwide and releases the highest concentration of gaseous, particulate, and metallic pollutants. This article aims to systematically review the public health impact of coal-fired power plant emissions on children’s health. PubMed, Web of Science, and Toxline databases were queried for the past 20 years. Inclusion criteria included original scientific articles with (a) coal-fired power plant exposure assessment, (b) at least one primary pediatric health outcome, and (c) assessment of potential sources of confounding and bias. Only morbidity and mortality studies were included; economic analysis and risk assessment studies without a primary health outcome were not included. Of 513 articles initially retrieved, 17 epidemiological articles were included in the final systematic review after screening and eligibility. The articles reviewed showed a statistically significant adverse effect on pediatric neurodevelopment; birth weight and pediatric respiratory morbidity was associated with exposure to coal-fired power plant emissions, primarily particulate matter and polyaromatic hydrocarbon exposure. There is a lack of consistency of exposure assessment and inadequate control of significant potential confounders such as social economic status. Future research should focus on improving exposure assessment models with an emphasis on source-apportionment and geographic information system methods to model power plant-specific emissions.
Highlights
The combustion of coal produces an exothermic reaction releasing particulate, gaseous, and metallic pollutants into the environment
The articles included in the systematic review show an overall statistically significant adverse effect on pediatric neurodevelopment, birth weight, and childhood respiratory morbidity associated with exposure to coal-fired power plant emissions, primarily particulate matter, and polyaromatic hydrocarbon exposure
Significant improvement in pediatric morbidity is associated with the closure of coal-fired power plants
Summary
The combustion of coal produces an exothermic reaction releasing particulate, gaseous, and metallic pollutants into the environment. Coal-fired power plants produce electricity through the rotation of a turbine by the steam produced when coal combustion occurs under high-pressure. Coal is the largest fuel source for electricity production worldwide and coal-fired power plants constitute a large majority of all emissions related to energy production. In the United States, coal-fired power plants account for 60% of all sulfur dioxide, 50% of mercury, 60% of arsenic, and 13% of nitrogen oxide emissions. Coal emissions from power plants represent the number one anthropogenic source of green-house gases worldwide. In the United States, approximately 81% of all greenhouse gas emissions are due to coal-fired power plant emissions, primarily carbon dioxide and to a lesser extent, nitrous oxides [1]
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