Burning fossil fuels releases significant quantities of carbon dioxide, aggravating climate change. Although it gets less attention these days, combustion also emits volumes of pollutants, which can cause a variety of illnesses. The most extensive consequences across the U.S. are noted below.
— Mark Fischetti
| U.S. Health Burden Caused by Particulate Pollution from Fossil-Fueled Power Plants | |
|---|---|
| Illness | Mean Number of Cases |
| Asthma (hospital admissions) | 3,020 |
| Pneumonia (hospital admissions) | 4,040 |
| Asthma (emergency room visits) | 7,160 |
| Cardiovascular ills (hospital admissions) | 9,720 |
| Chronic bronchitis | 18,600 |
| Premature deaths | 30,100 |
| Acute bronchitis | 59,000 |
| Asthma attacks | 603,000 |
| Lower respiratory ills | 630,000 |
| Upper respiratory ills | 679,000 |
| Lost workdays | 5.13 million |
| Minor restricted-activity days | 26.3 million |
» Read more about ‘The Human Cost of Energy’ in the September 2011 issue of Scientific American.
Source: “The Health Costs of Inaction with Respect to Air Pollution,” by Pascale Scapecchi, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Environmental Working Papers, No. 2.
