Virginia is the 12th worst state in the nation when it comes to exposing residents to toxic air pollution from coal-fired power plants, according to an analysis released today in Virginia by the Natural Resources Defense Council.
The NRDC-compiled data show: Virginia’s electric sector ranked 12th in industrial toxic air pollution in 2010, emitting nearly 9.5 million pounds of harmful chemicals, which accounted for 40 percent of state pollution and about 3 percent of toxic pollution from all U.S. power plants.
Virginia ranked 27th among all states in industrial mercury air pollution from power plants with about 660 pounds emitted in 2010, which accounted for 66 percent of state mercury air pollution and 1 percent of U.S. electric sector mercury pollution.
