Study: Power Plants, Deaths Linked

[Susan Gawarecki <loc@icx.net>]

Study: Power Plants, Deaths Linked 
By STEVE LeBLANC
Associated Press Writer
May 8, 2000 
 
BOSTON (AP) via NewsEdge Corporation - 

Air pollution from two coal-burning power plants
can be linked to more than 43,000 asthma
attacks and an estimated 159 premature deaths
each year, according to a Harvard School of
Public Health report. 

The study, which looked at emissions from the
Brayton Point plant in Somerset and Salem
Harbor Station plant in Salem, found as many as
32 million people in New England, New York and
New Jersey could be exposed to the pollution.
Both plants are owned by PG&E Generating Co. 

``There is no autopsy in the world that could
say this particle or this gas you died from,'' said
John Spengler, a professor of environmental
health at Harvard and one of the study's
authors. ``But we can calculate how many
people are exposed to what amount of air
pollution. From that you can calculate how many
deaths.'' 

The study was commissioned by the Clean Air
Task Force, a nonprofit environmental
organization focusing on air quality. 

PG&E officials said they are reviewing the study,
but ``take issue'' with some of its findings
concerning possible illness and death. The
company bought the plants 18 months ago from
New England Electric System. 

``We are committed to doing the right thing and
have pledged substantial reductions of emissions
at both facilities,'' PG&E spokeswoman Lisa
Franklin said Thursday. 

Researchers calculated the amount of air
pollution coming from the two plants and used
mathematical models to determine where and in
what quantity it landed. 

Using that information, Spengler said,
researchers were able to estimate increased
numbers of asthma attacks and deaths
attributable to the pollution. 

Suzanne Condon, director of the state's Bureau
of Environmental Health Assessment, said the
report raises important questions but relies on
assumptions. 

``It's more of a risk assessment approach rather
than trying to actually evaluate impact on real
people that live there,'' Condon said. 

On the Net: Harvard School of Public Health:
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/ 

PG&E Generating Co.:
http://www.gen.pge.com/welcome.html 
-- 
==================================================
Susan L. Gawarecki, Ph.D., Executive Director
Oak Ridge Reservation Local Oversight Committee, Inc.
136 S Illinois Ave, Ste 208, Oak Ridge, TN 37830
Phone (865) 483-1333; Fax (865) 482-6572; E-mail loc@icx.net 
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