Report: U.S. coal power plants emit toxic air pollutants - eg mercury, arsenic, dioxin, acid gases

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Report: U.S. coal power plants emit toxic air pollutants.

<http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/03/coal-power-plan\

ts-air-pollution/1>

Coal-burning power plants release more toxic air pollutants such

as arsenic and lead than any other U.S. industrial pollution

source, says a report Tuesday by the American Lung Association...

The report comes as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency gets

ready to propose rules to address this pollution, which it's

required to do by March 16. Environmental and health care groups,

including the ALA, are pushing for strict limits on pollutants.

The industry seeks more flexibility... " It's time that we end the

'toxic loophole' that has allowed coal-burning power plants to

operate without any federal limits on emissions of mercury,

arsenic, dioxin, acid gases such as hydrogen chloride and other

dangerous pollutants, " said D. Connor, president and CEO

of the American Lung Association, in announcing the findings....

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USA Today

* Hazardous air pollutants from coal-fired power plants include:

. Acid gases, such as hydrogen chloride and hydrogen fluoride;

. Benzene, toluene and other compounds;

. Dioxins and furans;

. Formaldehyde;

. Lead, arsenic, and other metals;

. Mercury;

. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH); and

. Radioactive materials, like radium and uranium.