A study by Harvard and Syracuse University researchers, published in the Nature Climate Change Journal on Monday, studied the impact the latest carbon standards for power plants across the US had on human health.

The results of the study come prior to finalization of new climate change rules by President Obama, an endeavor to take forward his environmental conservation efforts. The proposed rules aim at limiting carbon emissions from US power plants, in a bid to make them environmentally sustainable. These climate change rules are expected to bring carbon emissions from power plants down to 30 percent by 2030, from 2005 levels.

The study used data from 2,400 fossil-fuel fired power plants and also from the Central Bureau. Statistical techniques including modeling were used to gauge the effect of emissions from these power plants on humans. The researchers also studied the positive impact the emission control standards had on curbing these hazardous emissions.

It was observed that if proper emission control standards, the ones formulated by the Environmental Protection Agency, were adhered to, a clear decrease of 3,500 premature deaths per year could be seen. As per these EPA rules, the reduction targets were given by states and marked improvements in energy efficiency of carbon emitting equipments including refrigerators, ACs and power grids were sought.

Energy efficiency not only reduces carbon emissions but also those of substances like soot and smog, the major by-products of coal-powered power plants. This would bring about a substantial decrease in air pollution, thereby, reducing air-borne illnesses like asthma and other lung ailments and also heart attacks, to the tune of 1000 each year.

It was reported that the Ohio River Valley region, including Ohio and Pennsylvania, shall witness the maximum decline in emissions, owing to the fact that these regions have had the highest levels of emissions, until date.