Report belies claim of coal plant safety

Over 60 percent of the diseases associated with respiratory infections are linked to exposure to air pollution, according to the Population Reference Bureau.

In a report titled "Children’s Environmental Health: Risks and Remedies," PRB said outdoor pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, ozone, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds come mainly from motor vehicle exhaust, power-plant emissions, open burning of solid waste, and construction and related activities.

The PRB report refuted claims by the National Power Corp. on the safety of the coal plants it operates or those being run by its IPPs based on the "clarity" of the emissions. Earlier, the organization of coal-fired thermal power plant operators vowed "continuing compliance with all applicable environmental rules, regulations, and policies."

In a related report, the Medical Observer, a local monthly publication for doctors and other health professionals, said Metro Manila is soaked in a deadly cocktail of air pollutants.