Coal Plants, Air Pollution and Anemia in India
Paper presented at MEEW2021.
Researcher
- Associate Professor Gaurav Datt
Summary
This research examines the impact of pollution from coal–fired power units on the anemic status of children and women in India. The number of coal units in the district at the time of birth significantly increases the incidence of anemia in young children; in utero exposure and exposure after birth also matters for child anemia.
The number of coal units in the district has effects on anemia among women as well, although the magnitude of the impacts are smaller than in the case of young children. This research finds that impacts are driven by the increase in PM2.5 pollution generated by coal–fired units. Anemia is established as a significant health cost of coal–fired power generation in rapidly growing economies that use this fuel source to meet increasing energy demands.