Coal Plants have a Significant Impact on Air Quality and Health: Incomplete Facts Don't Change the Truth

A statement by the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) responding to a National Post commentary, arguing that coal-fired power plants significantly impact air quality and public health through the emission of sulphur dioxide and fine particulate matter.

• Coal-fired power plants are a primary source of sulphur dioxide (SO2), which transforms into secondary sulphate, the most significant source 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 of air pollution literature indicates that exposure to PM2.5 increases mortality and morbidity risks (especially cardiovascular), ozone affects pulmonary and vascular health, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) increases respiratory morbidity and mortality, and SO2 contributes to cardiovascular and respiratory issues and childhood asthma.
• 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 extrapolation by the Pembina Institute 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 between 2015 and 2035, 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} }