Air Pollution citations in and around Indiana

This really does not surprise me. According to The Associated Press: EPA plans to cite 5 Midwest states for pollution. " Illinois has 14 counties on the list, Indiana has 19 counties, Michigan has 9 counties, Ohio has 28 counties and Wisconsin has 6 counties. Minnesota has no counties on the list. Nationwide, EPA intends to name 215 counties in 25 states as not meeting the new standard."

"The list came as a surprise in Indiana, which had suggested that only five of its counties be cited. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management said Tuesday that the agency hopes the EPA removes some of the Indiana counties from its final list." It doesn't to me. We have a minimum of 25 coal powered electricity plants in this state. With the coal lobby as strong and well paid as they are, change will not come until the current administration changes.

According to the EPA:

Particle exposure can lead to a variety of health effects. For example, numerous
studies link particle levels to increased hospital admissions and emergency room
visits—and even to death from heart or lung diseases. Both long- and short-term
particle exposures have been linked to health problems.

Long-term exposures, such as those experienced by people living for many years in areas
with high particle levels, have been associated with problems such as reduced lung function and the development of chronic bronchitis and even premature death.

Short-term exposures to particles (hours or days) can aggravate lung disease, causing
asthma attacks and acute bronchitis, and may also increase susceptibility to respiratory infections. In people with heart disease, short-term exposures have been linked to heart attacks and arrhythmias. Healthy children and adults have not been reported to suffer serious effects from short-term exposures, although they may experience temporary minor
irritation when particle levels are elevated.

We have plenty of sunshine available here. As I mentioned in yesterdays blog, these huge factories and box stores that we have so many of can be utilized as solar collectors to get us off the coal. Sorry coal lobby, but you guys need to get a job with the solar lobby. Not too many people like you anymore.