Respiratory related ER visits decreased 20% after coal-processing plant closure, study finds

A recent research study conducted by NYU Langone Health researchers has revealed that the closure of a major fossil fuel pollution source near Pittsburgh, PA, led to immediate improvements in respiratory health among residents in the area. This groundbreaking study has been published online in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

By analyzing data from local and federal air quality monitors, the researchers were able to monitor the impact of air pollution on the health of individuals living near the Shenango plant both before and after its closure in 2016.

The results of the study indicated that following the plant’s closure in January 2016, there was a significant 20 percent decrease in respiratory-related emergency visits within the first few weeks. Additionally, pediatric asthma visits saw a 41 percent decline in the first month post-closure, with a further 4 percent reduction each month throughout the study period.

These findings underscore the direct correlation between reductions in fossil-fuel-related air pollution and improvements in both short-term and long-term lung health, as emphasized by the researchers.

Dr. George Thurston, the senior author of the study and a professor at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, highlighted the unexpected magnitude of the positive impact on respiratory health due to the closure of the industrial pollution source. He emphasized the toxic nature of emissions from such fossil fuel-related sources.

Dr. Thurston, who is affiliated with the American Thoracic Society, stated, “This study provides compelling evidence that the cessation of a major industrial pollution source can result in immediate and sustained enhancements in lung health for residents in proximity.”

The lead author of the article, Dr. Wuyue Yu, a postdoctoral fellow at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, added, “Through the examination of health outcomes pre and post the coke plant closure, we were able to isolate the effects of reduced air pollution and observe a direct correlation between cleaner air and reduced respiratory emergency visits and hospitalizations.”