Fresh insights from a study underscore the substantial health benefits of improved air quality, potentially surpassing prior estimations. The investigation centered around the shutdown of a coal processing facility in 2016, situated on Neville Island in the Ohio River near Pittsburgh, USA. This plant had served as a coal-coke producer for steelmaking for approximately a century. The cessation of its operations yielded an instantaneous reduction in air pollution within the local communities. Notably, sulfur dioxide levels plummeted by 90%, arsenic levels diminished by 66%, and there was a discernible enhancement in particle pollution levels.
Of significant consequence, a rapid 42% reduction in emergency visits related to heart issues manifested immediately following the plant closure. This decline persisted for the subsequent three years, a trend that endured until the study’s conclusion, showcasing the enduring health benefits resultant from the plant’s shutdown. Analogously, a similar trend was observable in instances of stroke. In contrast, the neighboring control communities that were not exposed to the plant’s pollution did not witness comparable changes.
While medical data can occasionally overlook the real-life experiences of affected individuals, the accounts from the local community bring to light the challenges posed by air pollution, dust, and odors emanating from the plant. Some residents recounted their struggles in managing exacerbated asthma, while others reported aggravated breathing problems upon relocating to the area. Closing windows at night as pollution settled over the community became routine.
Air pollution, often invisible in our daily lives, drew parallels with the impacts of Covid lockdowns. The cessation of plant operations brought about immediate alterations, with residents suddenly noticing clear blue skies instead of haze, accompanied by the scents of nature, alongside improvements in health.
Professor George Thurston, leading the study from New York University Grossman School of Medicine, remarked, “We discovered cardiac health benefits from the plant’s closure far beyond our expectations. This solidifies the fact that air pollution arising from fossil fuel activities is considerably more hazardous than other forms of pollution. Policymakers have significantly underestimated the rapid and tangible health improvements that will ensue as we phase out fossil fuel-related processes and combustion in our urban and suburban areas.”
Professor Dan Greenbaum, associated with the US Health Effects Institute and not involved in the Pittsburgh study, commented, “This form of study stands as one of the most effective ways to ascertain the link between air pollution exposure and adverse health effects. In simple terms, if one reduces the air pollution an individual is exposed to, can a measurable improvement in health be observed? In the case of Pittsburgh’s residents, the answer is evident.”
Policy measures aimed at mitigating air pollution frequently unfold gradually and might lack the transformative impact observed in the vicinity of Pittsburgh. Consequently, identifying the associated health benefits becomes more challenging.
Nevertheless, a prohibition on the sale of smoky coal types in Dublin in 1990 correlated with a 17% drop in deaths attributable to respiratory issues. In Launceston, Tasmania, a program that incentivized homeowners to transition away from wood heating resulted in a 28% reduction in winter-related respiratory fatalities and a 20% decline in heart-related deaths. Sweden’s strides in air quality improvement also correlated with positive impacts on children’s lung development.
Among eight investigations into low emission zones (LEZs), five established a clear reduction in heart and circulatory problems. Outcomes encompassed decreased hospital admissions, fewer fatalities from heart attacks and strokes, and a lower incidence of blood pressure issues. A German study analyzing hospital data from 69 cities with LEZs unveiled a 2-3% reduction in heart issues and a 7-12% decline in stroke cases. Notably, these benefits were most pronounced among older individuals, culminating in estimated health-related cost savings of €4.4 billion (£3.8 billion).