#EPA to Stop Considering Lives Saved When Setting Rules on #AirPollution
In a reversal, the agency plans to calculate only the cost to industry when setting pollution limits, & not the monetary value of saving human lives, documents show.
#Trump #law #EnvironmentalLaw #PublicHealth #pollution #health
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/climate/trump-epa-air-pollution.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share
For decades, the #EPA has calculated the #health benefits of reducing #AirPollution, using the cost estimates of avoided #asthma attacks & premature #deaths to justify #CleanAir rules.
Not anymore.
Under #Trump, the EPA plans to stop tallying gains from the health benefits caused by curbing 2 of the most widespread deadly #air pollutants, fine particulate matter & ozone, when regulating industry, acc/to internal agency emails & documents reviewed by The NYT.
It’s a seismic shift that runs counter to the #EPA’s mission statement, which says the agency’s core responsibility is to protect human #health & the #environment, #EnvironmentalLaw experts said.
The change could make it easier to repeal limits on these #pollutants from #coal burning power plants, #oil refineries, #steel mills & other industrial facilities across the country, emails & documents show. That would most likely lower costs for companies while resulting in dirtier #air.
Fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, refers to particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, small enough to penetrate deep into the #lungs & enter the #bloodstream. #Ozone is a #smog-causing gas that forms when nitrogen dioxide & volatile organic compounds are emitted from power plants, factories & vehicles & mix in the #air on hot, sunny days.
#Trump #EPA #law #EnvironmentalLaw #PublicHealth #pollution #health
Long-term exposure to both #pollutants is linked to #asthma, #heart & #lung #disease, & premature #death. Even moderate exposure to PM2.5 can damage the lungs about as much as smoking.
#Trump #EPA #law #EnvironmentalLaw #PublicHealth #pollution #health
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