Case Study on Respiratory Diseases and Pollutant Emissions from the Candiota Coal-Fired Power Plant

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between respiratory diseases — asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and pneumonia — and the presence of the Candiota coal-fired power plant, analyzing the influence of industrial emissions on the respiratory health of neighboring populations. The primary objective is to evaluate whether proximity to the plant is associated with higher morbidity rates, using epidemiological data from the municipalities of Candiota, Pinheiro Machado, and Aceguá, selected for their geographical location and comparable population profiles. The theoretical framework is grounded in the documented effects of pollutants such as sulfur dioxide (SO₂), released during coal combustion, on respiratory conditions. Methodologically, descriptive and comparative statistical analyses were employed to assess disease incidence rates between 2008 and 2022, correlating them with atmospheric emission data from the plant. Results reveal no direct association between the power plant’s presence and disease occurrence: Candiota, the plant’s host municipality, exhibited the lowest incidence rates, while Aceguá recorded the highest rates despite lacking significant industrial sources. Analysis of SO₂ also showed no significant causal relationship, suggesting that factors such as socioeconomic conditions, exposure to non-industrial pollutants, or regional environmental variables may influence epidemiological patterns. The study concludes that the complexity of health determinants necessitates multidisciplinary approaches in future research, integrating environmental, demographic, and behavioral variables to elucidate underlying disease distribution mechanisms. It emphasizes the importance of continuous monitoring, considering the cumulative effects of pollution, even in the absence of immediate correlations.