When NO x emissions combine with other organic compounds in the presence of sunlight, ground level ozone, or smog, is created. When inhaled, ozone burns through the cell walls of lungs causing airways in the lungs to become swollen and inflamed. For those with asthma and other respiratory diseases, ozone can have much more severe impacts, including visits to the emergency room and hospitalizations. Power plants in Minnesota account for 40 percent of the State's NO x emissions. Unchecked Emissions of Mercury Currently, coal-fired power plants are not required to meet any air emissions standards for mercury or for emissions of other air toxics.
Coal releases mercury when it is burned.
Mercury settles downwind from plants contaminating the fish in many lakes and rivers. Carbon Dioxide Burning fossil fuels emits greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. CO 2 emissions cause significant changes in the earth's climate. There's only a crisis if we do nothing. Not only are these power plants some of the largest and least regulated industrial sources of air pollutants, but the plants currently operate at only 20 percent to 80 percent of their fully rated generating capacity.