Trump’s EPA Fails to Protect Clean Air By Strengthening Rules

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed retaining Obama-era particulate matter standards. The standards for small particulate matter, known as PM 2.5, were set in 2012 and limit annual average exposure to 12 micrograms per cubic meter. A recent Harvard study found a link between exposure to particulate matter and risk of dying from the coronavirus.

“Trump siding with polluters over public health is shameful but not a surprise. It is even more reckless, however, because our country is in the middle of a respiratory disease pandemic. Even the EPA’s own scientists and staff recommended stronger standards. They found that the existing PM 2.5 standards are linked to thousands of premature deaths each year, but Andrew Wheeler chose to ignore them. What’s worse is that a Harvard study found that people living in counties with high levels of fine particulate matter are more likely to die from coronavirus,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “The EPA is being irresponsible by not setting stronger standards, especially in the middle of the public health emergency.”

The recent Harvard study found that a person living for decades in a county with high levels of particulate matter is 15% more likely to die from the coronavirus than someone living in a region with one unit less of the particulate pollution. Particulate matter is emitted from tailpipes and smokestacks, and therefore impacts car-heavy and industrialized areas the most. Long-term exposure to particulate matter has been linked to premature deaths and greater health risks from respiratory diseases.

“The Harvard study should be a wake-up call to the EPA because it links coronavirus impacts with poor air quality. It shows that communities overburdened by air pollution are taking the brunt of the coronavirus. The EPA’s own experts found that even slightly stronger standards could save thousands of lives, but Wheeler refuses to change the standards. This is especially worrisome in a state like New Jersey. We have some of the worst air quality in the nation, and 45% of our air pollution comes from mobile sources. Because of the impacts of air pollution, we already have higher levels of asthma and heart disease. We also have the second-highest number of coronavirus cases,” said Jeff Tittel. “Instead of protecting public health and safety, the EPA is once again siding with polluters.”

According to the American Lung Association report, 10 counties in the state received a grade of “F” for their air quality. No other county received a grade higher than C.  Climate change creates higher ozone levels, leading to worsened air quality and increased health effects.

“Instead of proposing stronger standards based in science, the EPA would rather keep the old standards in place. This means that areas with a lot of traffic and polluting facilities will continue to suffer from poor air quality. In New Jersey, most of the counties are still receiving ‘F’ designations for their ground-level ozone. It’s even worse in our congested urban areas where people are sucking in the fumes and choking on them. You can feel it in your lungs and in your nose. It leads to more trips to the emergency room and more risk for people with heart problems and asthma,” said Tittel. “This is very concerning, especially when people who are at risk for the coronavirus are trying to keep themselves quarantined and safe during the health emergency.”

North Jersey remains ranked the 10th worst metropolitan area in the U.S. for ozone levels, the same as last year. The main ingredient is smog that can trigger asthma attacks in the estimated 650,000 state residents who suffer from the disease. In New Jersey, air pollution has led to asthma in children and adults, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer.

“Air pollution can cause asthma attacks and put people with heart problems, lung problems, and children at risk. During this public health emergency, if at-risk people are infected with the coronavirus the impacts of air pollution can be deadly. New Jersey needs to move quickly to reduce our air pollution because the EPA would rather take care of polluters than public health,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “Governor Murphy can put a moratorium on all fossil fuel projects, DEP can move forward on regulating GHG’s and methane, and the state can move forward with EV technology.”