Environment Report series on coal - Part 1 COLUMBUS, OH (WCBE) - The U.S. EPA says Ohio led the nation in the amount of toxic pollutants emitted into the air in 2007. Nearly 73 million of the 115.1 million pounds of mercury, lead, barium and sulfuric and hydrochloric acids emitted in 2007 came from coal-fired power plants. Lobbyists for the coal industry and environmentalists are conducting campaigns for and against the use of coal. In the first of a five-part series on the future of coal, Lester Graham reports. © Copyright 2012, WCBE