Chronic coal pollution

Study    |    28 February 2019

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In the Western Balkans there are 16 outdated coal power plants that threaten public health by producing enormous amounts of air pollution, impacting people in the region, the EU and beyond. Every year they cause 3,000 premature deaths, 8,000 cases of bronchitis in children, and other chronic illnesses costing both health systems and economies a total of EUR 6.1-11.5 billion. The EU bears the majority of the health costs amounting to EUR 3.1-5.8 billion, while the economic burden on the Western Balkan countries is estimated to be EUR 1.9-3.6 billion every year.