Health Risks and Costs of Natural Gas Power Plants

This briefing from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) outlines the public health risks and economic costs associated with natural gas and diesel power generation, specifically targeting the government of New Brunswick to discourage the construction of new gas infrastructure, such as the proposed RIGS gas plant.

• Natural gas power plants release several pollutants that cause severe respiratory and cardiovascular issues. Nitrogen Oxides (NOX) and Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) can irritate the lungs and may cause Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) can penetrate organs including the brain, leading to strokes, heart attacks, and cancer, and can cross the placenta to affect the fetus. Carbon Monoxide (CO) can cause death by displacing oxygen in the blood, while Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) can be carcinogenic and toxic for reproduction. Ground Level Ozone (O3) causes inflammation and can lead to pulmonary edema.
• Air pollution has a significant impact on the Canadian population, with Health Canada estimating 15,300 premature deaths annually. It is also linked to 35 million acute respiratory symptom days and 2.7 million asthma symptom days each year. Certain pollutants, including ozone, NO2, and PM2.5, are considered non-threshold, meaning there is no safe level of exposure.
• In New Brunswick, vulnerable populations are particularly affected by air pollution; 1 in 5 children suffer from asthma, which is the primary cause of pediatric hospitalizations, and 1 in 5 seniors live with COPD.
• Gas power plants drive climate change by burning methane, which is 84 to 87 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. A proposed gas and diesel plant for Tantramar is estimated to generate up to 910,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually, which is equivalent to the emissions of 200,000 cars.
• Climate change leads to severe health outcomes, including deaths from extreme heat and the northward migration of infectious diseases. Examples include 619 heat-related deaths in British Columbia during the 2021 Pacific Northwest heat dome and the death of a 9-year-old asthmatic boy in British Columbia in July 2023 due to wildfire-induced air pollution.
• The economic burden of air pollution is substantial, with Health Canada reporting a total economic cost of $120 billion in 2016. In the U.S., a study estimated that avoiding gas plants proposed at the end of 2021 could prevent $23 to $74 billion in health costs over 20 years, while proposed plants in Wisconsin were estimated to add $119 to $192 million U.S. per year in healthcare costs.
• Healthcare costs in New Brunswick are detailed by specific service rates: an average hospital stay costs $7,700 (2022-2023), with daily hospitalization costs at $581 generally and $675 in the Moncton and southeast region. Emergency room visits cost $192.17 and doctor visits cost $46.50. Additionally, the median cost per stay for premature infants in Canada is $66,669, rising to $91,137 for those living more than 3 days.

APA

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (2026). Health Risks and Costs of Natural Gas Power Plants. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Health-Risks-and-Costs-of-Natural-Gas-Power-Plants_CAPE-NB_June-2026.pdf#new_tab

Chicago

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. Health Risks and Costs of Natural Gas Power Plants. 2026. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Health-Risks-and-Costs-of-Natural-Gas-Power-Plants_CAPE-NB_June-2026.pdf#new_tab.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |title=Health Risks and Costs of Natural Gas Power Plants |date=10 June 2026 |url=https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Health-Risks-and-Costs-of-Natural-Gas-Power-Plants_CAPE-NB_June-2026.pdf#new_tab |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{canadianassociationofphysiciansfortheenvironment2026health, author = {{Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}}, title = {{Health Risks and Costs of Natural Gas Power Plants}}, institution = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, year = {2026}, month = jun, url = {https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Health-Risks-and-Costs-of-Natural-Gas-Power-Plants_CAPE-NB_June-2026.pdf#new_tab}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }