The report comprises of five chapters which bring up the following subjets: health damage from coal power plants, trans-boundary air pollution from coal power plants, the economics of health impacts from coal power generation and the results of HEAL expert assessment of impacts and economic costs for Europe.

The report also provides the authorities and the public health sector with policy recommendations on how the problem might be resolved and states that the solutions should be included in the future decisions regarding energetics.

Download the polish version of the report

According to the HEAL report, burning coal in power plants in Poland results in health costs of PLN 12.5 – 34.4 billion (€3 – 8.2 billion) every year. The figures represent the first-ever assessment of the health burden and monetary associated with coal-fired power generation.

The report shows the scientific evidence that air pollution is an important risk factor for health. Air pollution worsens chronic respiratory and cardiovascular disease and also leads to higher mortality from these diseases.

The report estimates that in Poland about 3,500 premature deaths, 1,600 cases of chronic bronchitis, 1,000 hospital admissions and 800,000 lost working days can be attributed air pollution from coal burning for electricity. The costs of the associated health burden are startlingly high – equivalent to approximately 30% of average EU funding to Poland.

“The report provides the first-ever calculation of the human health costs associated with coal-fired power stations in Europe. This important economic assessment represents an unpaid health bill that should be taken into account when determining energy policy” – Génon K. Jensen, HEAL Executive Director, writes in the introduction.

The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) is a leading European not-for-profit organization addressing how the environment affects health in the European Union.