Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) joined environmental groups in announcing their intent to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in federal court to force the release of long-awaited federal safeguards for toxic coal ash.

"The information being presented to students misleads them on very basic questions of health and safety. Fossil fuels like coal have very damaging effects on health, and schools should warn students about them, not ignore them," noted Barbara Gottlieb, Director of Environment and Health at Physicians for Social Responsibility.

Dr. Catherine Thomasson, an Oregon physician and leading advocate on health-related impacts on nuclear weapons and climate change, became executive director of Physicians for Social Responsibility on January 1, 2012.

While there has been limited research in Australia on the health effects of coal mining, extensive studies in the US by the Physicians for Social Responsibility found people living in high coal-producing counties had higher rates of cardiopulmonary disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension and kidney disease compared with people in non-coal-producing counties.

Dr. Robert Little, co-chair of Harrisburg Physicians for Social Responsibility, explains the health impacts of particulate matter from car exhaust.

Dr. Lynn Ringenberg, president of PSR Florida, said the new nuclear units just aren't worth the risk. It's been proven, she said, that even low levels of radiation can cause cancer.