Southern Environmental Law Center
As state and federal politicians seek to remove or block protections from harmful air pollution, industry-provided data reveals that large polluters put more than 34 million pounds of toxic substances and nearly 1.5 million pounds of cancer-causing chemicals into the air North Carolina residents breathed during 2010. Coal-fired power plants are among the largest sources of toxic air pollutants in North Carolina and the U.S., but the industry has avoided federal regulation of their hazardous emissions for over two decades and continues to fight attempts to regulate harmful pollution. Many of these toxic pollutants cause cancer, premature death, mutations and birth defects, respiratory illness and heart attacks.
“Politicians that reduce or repeal limits on toxic air pollution knowingly increase the risk for all North Carolina residents of cancer and other serious—even deadly—health problems,” said Derb Carter, director of the Carolinas Office at the Southern Environmental Law Center. “Children, pregnant women and senior citizens are most vulnerable to toxic air pollution and face the greatest risk from irresponsible political attacks on clean air protections.”
According to data that industrial polluters must report to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2010, polluters released more than 1 million pounds of toxic pollution into the air breathed by residents in each of twelve counties (listed in descending order by amount)—Columbus (3,972,385 lbs.), New Hanover (3,056,955lbs.), Wayne (2,148,960 lbs.), Haywood (2,062,632 lbs.), Chatham (1,959,508 lbs.), Beaufort (1,949,921 lbs.), Rutherford (1,9365,551 lbs.), Gaston (1,765,023 lbs.), Rowan (1,427,134 lbs.), Brunswick (1,275,653 lbs.), Rockingham (1,272,794 lbs.) and Catawba (1,053,677 lbs.) counties.
Reported toxic air pollution includes chemicals known to cause cancer. Polluters released nearly 50,000 pounds or more of known carcinogens into the air of each of ten counties (listed in descending order by amount): Columbus (197,082 lbs.), Wilson (126,923 lbs.), Haywood (113,591 lbs.), Brunswick (103,151 lbs.), Montgomery (85,294 lbs.), Chatham (78,640 lbs.), Rowan (76,664 lbs.), Wilkes (57,925 lbs.), Craven (55,174 lbs.) and Chowan (49,307 lbs.) counties.
In a recent meeting, the N.C. Assembly’s Environmental Review Commission will continue consideration of an amendment to Senate Bill 308 that would repeal the only health-based protections for the air people breathe against actual concentrations of toxic and cancer-causing air pollutants from multiple large industrial sources, including coal-fired power plants.
Five of the state’s largest polluters requested that state legislators repeal North Carolina’s Regulations for the Control of Toxic Air Pollutants—protections adopted under Republican Governor James Martin. The polluters requesting the repeal of health-based pollution limits are Domtar, which operates a paper plant in Plymouth, Duke Energy which operates seven coal-fired power plants in the state, Evergreen Packaging Group which operates a paper plant in Canton, Nucor Corp. which operates a steel plant in Hertford County, and Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan which operates a phosphate facility near Aurora.
As state politicians seek to allow more toxic pollution in the air people breathe, a majority of the U.S. House of Representatives last week passed H.R. 2401 to block limits on toxic air pollution from coal-fired power plants and cement kilns—such as the proposed Titan cement kiln in New Hanover County—despite known health risks and thousands of lives that the U.S. EPA and the American Lung Association estimate could be saved by such limits.
The listed pollutants covered by the state regulations are the most hazardous to public health, including PCBs, dioxins, asbestos, heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, mercury, and others including formaldehyde, cyanide and dozens of known carcinogens.
For more information, click here.
Here are three new films to watch this Earth Week that will transport you from pole to pole and introduce you to the scientists and activists working to save our shared home.
1. The Year Earth Changed
Where to Watch: Apple TV+
When to Watch: From April 16
The coronavirus pandemic has brought home the stakes of humanity's impact on the environment. But the lockdowns also proved how quickly nature can recover when humans give it the space. Birds sang in empty cities, whales surfaced in Glacier Bay and capybara roamed the South American suburbs.
The Year Earth Changed captures this unique year with footage from more than 30 lockdowned cities between May 2020 to January 2021. Narrated by renowned wildlife broadcaster David Attenborough, the film explores what positive lessons we can take from the experience of a quieter, less trafficked world.
"What the film shows is that the natural world can bounce back remarkably quickly when we take a step back and reduce our impact as we did during lockdown," executive producer Alice Keens-Soper of BBC Studios Natural History Unit told EcoWatch. "If we are willing to make even small changes to our habits, the natural world can flourish. We need to learn how to co-exist with nature and understand that we are not separate from it- for example if we closed some of our beaches at for a few weeks during the turtle breeding we see that it can make a huge difference to their success. There are many ways that we can adapt our behavior to allow the natural world to thrive as it did in lockdown."
2. After Antarctica
Where to Watch: San Francisco International Film Festival
When to Watch: 12 a.m. PST April 9 to 11:59 p.m. April 18
In 1989, Will Steger led an international team of six scientists and explorers to be the first humans to cross Antarctica by dogsled. Steger and his team weren't just in it for the adventure. They also wanted to draw attention to the ways in which the climate crisis was already transforming the icy continent and to rally support for the renewal of the Antarctic Treaty, which would keep the continent safe from extractive industries.
In After Antarctica, award-winning filmmaker Tasha Van Zandt follows Steger 30 years later as he travels the Arctic this time, reflecting on his original journey and once again bringing awareness to changes in a polar landscape. The film intersperses this contemporary journey with footage from the original expedition, some of which has never been seen before.
"Will's life journey as an explorer and climate activist has led him not only to see more of the polar world than anyone else alive today, but to being an eyewitness to the changes occurring across both poles," Van Zandt told EcoWatch. "But now, these changes are happening in all of our own backyards and we have all become eyewitnesses. Through my journey with Will, I have learned that although we cannot always control change, we can change our response. I feel strongly that this is a message that resonates when we look at the current state of the world, as we each have power and control over how we choose to respond to hardships, and we all have the power to unite with others through collective action around a common goal."
After Antarctica is available to stream once you purchase a ticket to the San Francisco International Film Festival. If you miss it this weekend, it will screen again at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival from May 13 to May 23.
Tasha Van Zandt
3. The Race to Save the World
Where to Watch: Virtual Cinema
When to Watch: From Earth Day, April 22
While many films about the climate crisis seek to raise awareness about the extent of the problem, The Race to Save the World focuses on the people who are trying to stop it. The film tells the story of climate activists ranging from 15-year-old Aji to 72-year-old Miriam who are working to create a sustainable future. It follows them from the streets to the courtroom to their homes, and explores the impact of their advocacy on their personal lives and relationships.
Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker Joe Gantz told EcoWatch that he wanted to make a film about climate change, but did not want to depress viewers with overwhelming statistics. Instead, he chose to inspire them by sharing the stories of people trying to make a difference.
"Unless millions of people take to the streets and make their voices heard for a livable future, the politicians are not going to get on board to help make the changes needed for a sustainable future," Gantz told Ecowatch. "I think that The Race To Save The World will energize and inspire people to take action so that future generations, as well as the plants, animals and ecosystems, can survive and thrive on this planet."
Check back with EcoWatch on the morning of Earth Day for a special preview of this inspiring film!