Pollution, People, and Power Plants: Health Burdens in Peabody, MA

Project Partner: Mass Climate Action Network, Summer 2022

Project Description: Community members are concerned about health impacts from a proposed power plant in Peabdoy, MA. The plant will emit additional particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, carbon dioxide, and other pollutants into a community that already has two power plants and environmental justice neighborhoods.

Kathryn worked with the Massachusetts Climate Action Network to summarize baseline health data in populations surrounding the proposed power plant. Populations closer to the plant had higher prevalence of several diseases, such as cancer and coronary heart disease, compared to the rest of the state. She also found risk factors that may make the surrounding population more vulnerable to health impacts from the plant. Finally, Kathryn identified critical components of a future community health impact assessment.

Main Project Deliverables: Kathryn presented her findings to a group of concerned community members with Breathe Clean North Shore, to Peabody’s Health Director, and she will present findings to the Boards of Health of Peabody, Salem, Danvers, and Beverly.

See Kathryn’s URBAN Internship lightning talk here.