Respiratory Function and Racial Health Disparities With Residential Proximity to Coal Power Plants in Wisconsin.
Journal
WMJ : official publication of the State Medical Society of Wisconsin
ISSN: 2379-3961
Titre abrégé: WMJ
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 9716054
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Jul 2022
Jul 2022
Historique:
entrez:
25
7
2022
pubmed:
26
7
2022
medline:
28
7
2022
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
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. 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. 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. 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.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
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
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
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
CONCLUSIONS
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.
Substances chimiques
Air Pollutants
0
Coal
0
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
94-105Informations de copyright
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