Since moving to the area between Springfield and Republic, I've noticed a distinct sulfur smell in the early mornings, especially as the day begins to heat up. After some investigation, I discovered that this odor is sulfur dioxide, a byproduct of coal processing from the nearby John Twitty Energy Center, located just about 4 miles from my home. This realization has coincided with an increase in my respiratory issues, prompting me to dig deeper into the situation.
The Hidden Dangers of Fine Particle Pollution
In 2010, Abt Associates conducted a study for the Clean Air Task Force, a nonprofit research and advocacy organization. This study quantified the deaths and health effects attributable to fine particle pollution from coal-fired power plants like the John Twitty Energy Center. Fine particle pollution is a complex mixture of soot, heavy metals, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides. The most dangerous particles are those less than 2.5 microns in diameter, which can evade the lung's natural defenses, enter the bloodstream, and be transported to vital organs.
The study's findings were alarming. Each year, fine particle pollution from U.S. coal plant emissions contributes to over 13,000 deaths and tens of thousands of cases of chronic bronchitis, acute bronchitis, asthma, congestive heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, dysrhythmia, ischemic heart disease, chronic lung disease, and pneumonia. These health impacts are especially severe among the elderly, children, and those with pre-existing respiratory conditions.
The Cost of Coal's Externalities
The study also highlighted that these deaths and illnesses represent significant external costs of coal, i.e., uncompensated harms inflicted upon the public. Low-income and minority populations are disproportionately affected due to the tendency of companies to avoid locating power plants upwind of affluent communities.
To put these impacts into perspective, Abt Associates assigned a monetary value to the health effects of fine particle pollution. Each mortality in 2010 was valued at $7,300,000 based on various government and private studies. The valuations of illnesses ranged from $52 for an asthma episode to $440,000 for a case of chronic bronchitis.
Taking Action
Understanding these impacts has motivated me to take action against the pollution from the John Twitty Energy Center. By using radionics and psionics, we can work together to mitigate the harmful effects of this coal processing plant on our health and environment.
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If you have a printer available, please download the aerial photo of the John Twitty Energy Center and join me in this effort. Let's use our collective energy to protect our community from the dangers of fine particle pollution.
