In China coal is king. China relies on coal for upwards of 70 percent of its energy and it is the biggest consumer and producer of coal in the world. Even with China building a new coal-fired power plant every three days, power demand continues to outstrip supply. While coal fuels China as the world's factory, it also releases many pollutants into the air including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and mercury, resulting in a profound impact on human health and the environment. Domestically, between 400,000 and 750,000 premature deaths are attributed to Chinese air pollution every year. The United States notably relies on coal for nearly 60 percent of its energy, so the opportunity for collaboration between the countries in monitoring and controlling these emissions is great.

At a 22 May 2008 China Environment Forum meeting, speakers Wei-Ping Pan of Western Kentucky University (WKU) and Mingxu Zhang of Anhui University of Science and Technology (AUST) introduced the coal component of the USAID-supported China Environmental Health Project, which aims to obtain accurate data on coal-fired pollution emissions in Huainan. Key to the success of this data collection is the strong collaborative partnership WKU has formed AUST and the provincial and municipal governments. This project also includes health studies conducted in the communities surrounding the three power plants where coal emissions are being monitored. The collection of emission and health data not only helps to promote transparency on pollution emissions in China—supporting new laws on environmental information dissemination—but also potentially raises awareness among policymakers on the health dangers of coal. Derek Vollmer made comments on the project based on his participation in a National Academy of Science study of energy and air pollution in Huainan and Dalian in China and Pittsburgh and Los Angeles in the United States.

Background and Inspiration for the China Environmental Health Project on Coal

Huainan city in Anhui Province was selected as the location for the China Environmental Health Project (CEHP) coal activities because it is the energy base of eastern China—sometimes referred to as the "fuel power three gorges" because of its three, soon to be four, major power plants. Overall, SO₂ emissions have been decreasing since scrubbers were installed at all three power plants; however, with the addition of the new power plant and growth of other industries, SO₂ and other emissions will undoubtedly increase in the city. Huainan produced 11 million tons of coal in 2004 and is projected to reach 30 million tons of coal production by 2030.

The main purpose of CEHP in Huainan is to build the capacity for coal monitoring in the city and to closely examine the effects of heavy coal use and poor air quality on health. Components of this initiative include improving the monitoring system of SO₂, NO₂, PM₁₀; training and educating Chinese researchers in the latest techniques; and reducing coal-burning related health problems. Because Chinese standards have not been established for some of the pollutants (such as mercury), the project employs U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards and sampling equipment to ensure the quality of measurement and examination.

Western Kentucky University (WKU), led by Dr. Pan, has had a long-standing relationship training AUST researchers on various coal monitoring techniques. Under CEHP, WKU has been able to help install high-tech monitoring equipment and increase training activity. AUST researchers are now working with WKU counterparts to train students and collect and analyze data in collaboration with the city's monitoring station. AUST researchers set up data collection stations in 5 locations throughout the city to conduct tests every 30 minutes. They also went to different schools to test pollutants emissions and conducted a health survey of students and residents to analyze the relationship between respiratory diseases and coal emissions. WKU also is working with AUST to conduct experiments to capture CO2 to turn it into useful products such as Ammonia Bicarbonate fertilizer, which keeps 78 percent of its carbon in the soil after application—solving both problems with greenhouse gas emissions and the need for fertilizer.

Details of the Findings

Drafted by Jing Chen, Linden Ellis, and Kimberly Go.