A recent study said nearly 300 Iowans die each year because of complications from coal pollution, but city officials said Ames is not in particular danger, even though the city has two of these types of plants.

According to an article by the Associated Press, microscopic particles of coal from power plants are released into the atmosphere where it can aggravate or even cause respiratory illnesses, especially asthma.

There are two coal burning plants in Ames, said Bob Kindred, assistant city manager. One is the City of Ames power plant, 200 E. Fifth St., and the other is the ISU power plant located next to the Lied Recreation Center, he said.

In regard to the study conducted by Abt Associates of Cambridge, Mass., Merlin Hove, director of electric services for the Ames plant, said the city plant emissions meet the Environmental Protection Agency regulations.

The plant posts emissions data on its Web site, which shows that the plant violates no regulations and usually emits less than half of the EPA maximums.

“We’re very open about this,” Hove said. “We want to make it clear that we do follow these regulations, and we’re not just doing the bare minimum. We make an effort to lower our emissions beyond what’s required.”

Laurent Hodges, professor of physics and astronomy, said the critical question for the EPA and Department of Natural Re-sources is where to set the pollution limits.

“One of the things they are required to take under consideration is the how the pollution affects people with bad health and asthma,” he said. “So when you see these reports, it’s not like [the pollution is] killing healthy 20-year-olds. The problem is, how does it affect people with already bad health?”

Hodges said pollution is always a risk with burning fossil fuels, but he said he would like to see more progress made with cleaner alternatives, such as solar and wind power.

The air quality in Ames is generally good due to the scarcity of power plants to the west, he said. However, Hodges said “as we as a nation consume more and more energy, it becomes more important for us to find ways to conserve it.”

Brian Button, air quality specialist for the Iowa DNR, said people should make themselves more aware of energy saving alternatives, such as compact fluorescent light bulbs and more efficient appliances.

“Most people don’t think about the consequences of using electricity,” he said. “Obviously, all electricity creates emissions, and that’s going to have an effect.”