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It is urgent to move away from fossil fuels

November 26, 2019

There have been recent letters opposing or criticizing clean wind power for electric energy. We need to consider the health impacts of burning fossil fuels on human health before we dismiss offshore wind so quickly. 

Burning fossil fuels emits particulate matter that can damage the heart and lungs when inhaled. Nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide - and heat-trapping gases (greenhouse gases) are also discharged from coal-fired power plants and other sources. Exposure to particulate matter is correlated with health conditions such as asthma, premature birth, and cardiovascular disease.

Children are particularly vulnerable because of their physiology; their hearts beat faster, and they have faster breathing rates and absorb more pollutants than adults. 

In November, The Lancet warned that children will face a lifetime of climate-related health problems unless we change course now, limit carbon emissions and keep global temperatures to well below 2 degrees Celsius. See the November 2019 report: http://www.lancetcountdown.org/2019-report/.

It is urgent to move away from fossil fuel burning and accelerate our transition toward clean energy, such as building offshore wind farms along our coasts. Generating electricity from low-carbon energy sources such as offshore wind decreases emissions of harmful air pollutants compared to fossil fuel power plants. The health and welfare of children does matter, and we should be doing all we can to protect them.

Joan Flaherty, MSN
Rehoboth Beach

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