- ED41A-0565: Investigating Spatial Relationships Between Electrical Power Plants Emissions, County-Level Air Pollution, and Demographics in the United States
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Board 0565‚ Hall EFG (Poster Hall)NOLA CC
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Vedant Sharan, Designing Your Energy Lifestyle: from Personal to Community (First Author, Presenting Author)
Tao Sun, Stanford University
Chad Zanocco, Stanford University
June Flora, Stanford University
Air pollution is a major public health issue in the world, contributing to breathing problems and diseases. One of the largest sources of air pollution comes from power plants, especially those that burn fossil fuels like coal and natural gas. While overall air quality has improved in recent decades, not all communities have benefited equally. This study looks at whether areas that create more fossil fuel energy tend to have worse air quality. It also sees whether these high-pollution areas are home to more low-income or minority populations, who may already face other health and social challenges.To answer these questions, we combined data on air pollution, power plant activity, and demographics for every county in the U.S. from government sources. We used mapping tools and statistical analysis to look for patterns and connections. We found that counties with more fossil fuel energy generation have worse air quality, and that disadvantaged populations are more likely to live in those areas. These findings suggest that energy choices and environmental inequality are linked. Future research could look how shifting toward cleaner energy might improve air quality and reduce health risks, especially for communities that are already burdened.
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