Coal plants have a significant impact on air quality and health—incomplete facts don't change the truth

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) asserts that coal plants are major sources of sulphur dioxide (SO2), which transforms into secondary sulphates and contributes to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) linked to heart and lung diseases. Citing World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Canada data, the statement claims that phasing out coal by 2030 would prevent thousands of premature deaths and hospital visits in Canada, providing billions of dollars in health benefits while supporting Paris Agreement commitments.

• Coal-fired power plants are a primary source of sulphur dioxide (SO2), which converts into secondary sulphates, the most significant component of ultra-fine particles and PM2.5 in Alberta. In 2014, these plants accounted for 40% of SO2 emissions in Alberta and 60% in the Edmonton Region.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) 2013 reassessment confirms that exposure to PM2.5, ozone, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and SO2 increases risks of mortality and morbidity, specifically regarding cardiovascular and respiratory health, as well as asthma in children.
• Environment Canada estimated in 2012 that current coal regulations would prevent approximately 994 premature deaths and 860 hospital admissions or emergency room visits between 2015 and 2035, with a value of $4.9 billion.
• A 2016 Pembina Institute analysis suggests that a Canada-wide coal plant phase-out by 2030 would nearly double the health benefits of existing regulations, preventing an additional 1,008 premature deaths and 871 hospital admissions or emergency room visits, valued at nearly $5 billion.

APA

Perrotta, K. (2017). Coal plants have a significant impact on air quality and health—incomplete facts don't change the truth. Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. https://cape.ca/coal-plants-have-a-significant-impact-on-air-quality-and-health-incomplete-facts-dont-change-the-truth/

Chicago

Perrotta, Kim. Coal plants have a significant impact on air quality and health—incomplete facts don't change the truth. Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, 2017. https://cape.ca/coal-plants-have-a-significant-impact-on-air-quality-and-health-incomplete-facts-dont-change-the-truth/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Perrotta |first1=Kim |title=Coal plants have a significant impact on air quality and health—incomplete facts don't change the truth |publisher=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |date=8 March 2017 |url=https://cape.ca/coal-plants-have-a-significant-impact-on-air-quality-and-health-incomplete-facts-dont-change-the-truth/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{perrotta2017coal, author = {Perrotta, Kim}, title = {{Coal plants have a significant impact on air quality and health—incomplete facts don't change the truth}}, publisher = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, year = {2017}, month = mar, url = {https://cape.ca/coal-plants-have-a-significant-impact-on-air-quality-and-health-incomplete-facts-dont-change-the-truth/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }