FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Clean Energy Now
Friday, June 8th, 2012
Contact: Monica Bakker, Monica.bakker@
Shane Levy, 415.977.5724, shane.levy@sierraclub.org
HOLLAND,
MI – The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality declared Saturday
an “orange” air quality day in West Michigan, meaning unhealthy air for
children and those with respiratory problems to breathe. “Orange” air
days and other poor and dangerous air quality days are determined by the
level of ozone pollution, known as smog, and other dangerous pollutants
in the air. Ozone pollution from coal-fired power plants combines with
warm weather to exacerbate respiratory problems for certain groups,
making it harder to breathe. Four coal-fired power plants from Holland
to Muskegon contribute to the pollution, along with automobiles and
pollution blown in from across Lake Michigan.
“Michigan’s
most vulnerable are being exposed to unhealthy air from local coal
plants like the James De Young, BC Cobb, JH Campbell and JB Sims and are
struggling with something as simple as breathing,” said Monica Bakker, a new mother with Sierra Club in Holland. “We
all deserve the right to enjoy summer out of doors. Our kids should
only have to remember to pack their swimsuits this summer, not their
inhalers.”
Smog
is a dangerous pollutant, which causes the lungs and airways to become
inflamed and swollen. Even at low levels smog can cause asthma attacks,
aggravate lung function or cause permanent lung damage. Children,
seniors and people with chronic respiratory and heart disease are
especially high risk.
"Air quality alert days like today make it unbearable for children with
existing asthma and elderly with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to breathe," said Christina Fuglseth, Respiratory Therapist and Chair of the Holland Better Breather’s Club. "Investing in clean, renewable energy projects instead of coal will translate into healthier
children being able to play outside without fearing consequences and the elderly being able to enjoy the outdoors.”
In
the Grand Rapids/Muskegon/Holland metro area 24,055 children and 86,359
adults suffer from asthma. For those individuals and others with
respiratory condition, air alert day represents an especially dangerous
threat to their health.
As summer heats up, warmer weather will increase levels of dangerous smog pollution. Coal-fired
power plants are estimated to cause more than 12,000 visits to the
emergency room and more than $100 billion in health costs each year.
Holland Board of Public Works JD Young coal plant, Grand Haven Board of
Power and Light JB Sims, Consumers Energy's Cobb plant in Muskegon and
West Olive plant are all major contributors to the pollution in West
Michigan.
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