Recent research confirms that large numbers of premature deaths are due to air pollution linked to small particles and mercury in emissions from coal-fired power plants. There is preliminary evidence that women, children and older adults are particularly vulnerable to PM10 and to PM25 (particulate matter 10 and 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter) (Villeneuve et al. Replacing polluting fossil fuels with renewable energy sources can reduce premature mortality and the number of lost workdays, thereby lowering overall healthcare costs (Machol and Rizk 2013).