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Respiratory related ER visits decreased 20 percent after Pittsburgh coal-processing plant closure. In the first month of the closure, pediatric asthma visits declined by 41 percent, and continued to fall by 4 percent each month through the end of the study period.

I remember the first time I saw a child struggling to breathe during an asthma attack. It was terrifying—the wheezing, the panic, the way their tiny body fought for air. Now, imagine if something as simple as shutting down a single coal plant could slash those scary ER visits by nearly half. That’s exactly what happened in Pittsburgh.

A recent study found that after a local coal-processing plant closed, respiratory-related ER visits dropped by 20% in the area. But the real stunner? Pediatric asthma visits plummeted by 41% in just the first month. And it kept getting better—month after month, those numbers kept falling by another 4%.

Let that sink in. No fancy new tech, no miracle drugs. Just removing a major source of pollution, and suddenly, kids could breathe easier.

Why This Matters
We’ve known for years that air pollution and health are linked, but seeing the impact this fast is rare. Coal plants emit particulate matter and sulfur dioxide, which irritate lungs and trigger asthma attacks. When the plant shut down, the air got cleaner almost overnight—and kids’ health improved just as quickly.

The Bigger Picture
This isn’t just a Pittsburgh story. It’s a reminder that policy changes—even ones that seem small—can have huge ripple effects. Cleaner air means fewer sick days, lower medical bills, and, most importantly, healthier kids.

So, what’s next? Maybe it’s time to ask: Where else could a single change make this kind of difference?