When a Pittsburgh coal plant shut down, ER visits plummeted. (NYT)
A new NYU study found that after the 2016 closure of the Shenango coal-processing plant near Pittsburgh, ER visits for respiratory issues dropped 20% in a single month—and asthma-related visits for children fell 41%.
Researchers called the health gains “remarkably consistent” with what smokers experience when they quit. They also saw declines in cardiovascular ER visits, suggesting the air cleanup had fast, measurable benefits.
The findings add to decades of evidence linking coal operations to asthma, lung disease, and premature deaths—and come as the Trump administration moves to revive coal production and roll back air pollution rules.