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Improved asthma outcomes observed in the vicinity of coal power plant retirement, retrofit and conversion to natural gas

Author

Listed:
  • Joan A. Casey

    (University of California
    Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health)

  • Jason G. Su

    (University of California)

  • Lucas R. F. Henneman

    (Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health)

  • Corwin Zigler

    (University of Texas)

  • Andreas M. Neophytou

    (University of California
    Colorado State University)

  • Ralph Catalano

    (University of California)

  • Rahul Gondalia

    (Propeller Health)

  • Yu-Ting Chen

    (Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness)

  • Leanne Kaye

    (Propeller Health)

  • Sarah S. Moyer

    (Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness)

  • Veronica Combs

    (University of Louisville)

  • Grace Simrall

    (Louisville Metro Office of Civic Innovation)

  • Ted Smith

    (University of Louisville)

  • James Sublett

    (Family Allergy & Asthma)

  • Meredith A. Barrett

    (Propeller Health)

Abstract

Coal-fired power plants release substantial air pollution, which included over 60% of US sulfur dioxide emissions in 2014. Such air pollution may exacerbate asthma, but direct studies of the health impacts linked to power plant air pollution are rare. Here we take advantage of a natural experiment in Louisville, Kentucky, where one coal-fired power plant was retired and converted to natural gas, and three others installed SO2 emission control systems between 2013 and 2016. Dispersion modelling indicated that exposure to SO2 emissions from these power plants decreased after the energy transitions. We used several analysis strategies, which include difference-in-differences, first-difference and interrupted time-series modelling to show that the emissions control installations and plant retirements are associated with a reduced asthma disease burden related to hospitalizations and emergency room visits at the ZIP-code level, and to individual-level medication use as measured by digital medication sensors.

Suggested Citation

  • Joan A. Casey & Jason G. Su & Lucas R. F. Henneman & Corwin Zigler & Andreas M. Neophytou & Ralph Catalano & Rahul Gondalia & Yu-Ting Chen & Leanne Kaye & Sarah S. Moyer & Veronica Combs & Grace Simra, 2020. "Improved asthma outcomes observed in the vicinity of coal power plant retirement, retrofit and conversion to natural gas," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 5(5), pages 398-408, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natene:v:5:y:2020:i:5:d:10.1038_s41560-020-0600-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41560-020-0600-2
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    Cited by:

    1. Jiun-Horng Tsai & Shih-Hsien Chen & Shen-Fong Chen & Hung-Lung Chiang, 2021. "Air Pollutant Emission Abatement of the Fossil-Fuel Power Plants by Multiple Control Strategies in Taiwan," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-15, September.
    2. Yongrok Choi & Fan Yang & Hyoungsuk Lee, 2020. "On the Unbalanced Atmospheric Environmental Performance of Major Cities in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-14, July.
    3. Hernandez-Cortes, Danae & Meng, Kyle C., 2023. "Do environmental markets cause environmental injustice? Evidence from California’s carbon market," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    4. Jindal, Abhinav & Shrimali, Gireesh, 2022. "Cost–benefit analysis of coal plant repurposing in developing countries: A case study of India," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).

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