Reader’s Views

permit hearing

fpl emissions

CCLF victory

The Alliance For A Clean Environment

Printable Version

Reader’s Views April 10, 2001

‘Criteria” Air Pollutants have harmful health effects. We understand FPL wants to emit about 2 million pounds of dangerous ‘Criteria’ Air Pollutants into our air every year. Would this pose a health threat?

EPA’s web-site reveals health risks from ‘Criteria’ air emissions. Children are most at risk. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics these emissions can cause respiratory hazards to children such as chronic cough, asthma, bronchitis, upper respiratory tract irritation. and even hospital emissions. Other effects from exposure include nausea, headache, malaise, and hyperactivity.

FPL’s emissions would be added to already enormous hazardous air emissions from Occidental Chemical (about 1 mile), Pottstown Landfill (about 6 miles), and right beside the Limerick Nuclear Plant. Our Severe Non-Attainment area was established by Clean Air Act, HEALTH-BASED standards. It makes no sense to permit ANY INCREASES of ‘Criteria’ air pollutants. Why can FPL even get a permit to emit 2 million pounds every year of dangerous ‘Criteria’ emissions in a Severe Non-Attainment area.

FPL says their emissions would be below limits set by EPA. This is NO ASSURANCE of safety of our health. Additive, cumulative, or synergistic exposures are not taken into account by EPA, when determining our health risks, yet we are forced to breathe them all at the same time. EPA’s standards are not set on our children, the sick, or the elderly, but instead on an average healthy male. Studies at Brigham Young University and Harvard have provided evidence that EPA’s current PM standard is not sufficient to protect children’s health.

ACE commends the Concerned Citizens for Limerick’s Future, who have done an outstanding job of informing area residents about the very real health risks from FPL’s air emissions . Children live, play, and attend schools far too close to FPL’s emissions. They are already breathing the top 10% of the most unhealthy and carcinogenic air in the nation.

If we want healthy, normal children we must demand reductions of hazardous air emissions. In the upcoming election be sure to vote for the candidates who have the knowledge and courage to protect your air.

Dr. Lewis Cuthbert
President, ACE

Together we can make our community safer for our children, our families, and ourselves. If you would like to participate in or donate towards campaigns, programs or projects, please contact ACE.