Tell EPA: Stop Making Air Pollution Worse!

A recent study found that an increase of 1 microgram per cubic meter in soot air pollution is associated with a 15% increase in COVID-19 death rate. Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced they are waving many environmental laws for the foreseeable future due to COVID-19. This is one in a series of ill-advised decisions that increase the amount of air pollution we are exposed to. Through these actions, the EPA is putting us more at risk for COVID-19 infection, prioritizing polluter profits over public health.

Write to the EPA, with a copy to Congress, telling them to reverse these decisions to protect us from more severe COVID 19 infection.

Recipients

Your Senators
Your Representative

Contact

*Required fields

* Title:

* First Name:

* Last Name:

* Your Email:

* Address 1:

Address 2:

* City:

* State / Province:

* ZIP / Postal Code:

* Phone Number:

Yes, I would like to receive periodic updates and communications from Alliance for Natural Health USA.

Remember me. What's this?

Message

Stop making air pollution worse

Dear [Decision Maker],

* Personalize your message

A recent study found that an increase of 1 microgram per cubic meter in soot air pollution is associated with a 15% increase in COVID-19 death rate. Meanwhile, the EPA announced they are waving many environmental laws for the foreseeable future due to COVID-19. This is one in a series of ill-advised decisions that increase the amount of air pollution we are exposed to. Through these actions, the EPA is putting us more at risk for COVID-19 infection, prioritizing polluter profits over public health.

Harvard University just released a study finding that a small increase in long-term exposure to air pollution leads to a large increase in the COVID-19 death rate. The EPA should be doing what it can to limit our exposure to air pollution, particularly during an outbreak of a virus that attacks our respiratory system. Studies of SARS, another coronavirus, also found that, as air pollution increased, so too did SARS case fatality.

Air pollution increases the risk of chronic and acute respiratory diseases, heart disease, cancer, and diabetes; people with these conditions have a fatality rate from COVID-19 that is 700-1,400% higher compared to those who don't have these preconditions.

First, the EPA passed up an opportunity to reduce industrial soot emissions--the same type of pollution that the Harvard study found increased the COVID-19 death rate. The agency's own scientists found that strengthening the rule could save 12,150 people a year. Who knows how many more deaths on top of these estimates will come about as a result of increased susceptibility to COVID-19?

The agency also just completed a rule that will expose us to more mercury and other toxic metals from oil and coal-fired power plants. Mercury occurs naturally in coal and fossil fuels; burning these substances releases mercury into the atmosphere. The rule will bar the EPA from taking secondary public health benefits into account when conducting a cost/benefit analysis for a rule.

The EPA is also rolling back car pollution standards. Old standards required an average 5% reduction in emissions annually from cars and light truck fleets; the new standard requires just 1.5%. According to an analysis from the Environmental Defense Fund, the change will result in a total of 18,500 premature deaths, 25,000 more asthma attacks, 350,000 other respiratory problems, and $190 billion in health costs between now and 2050. Again, these estimates do not even include how many more people will become infected and die from COVID-19 as a result of exposure to additional air pollution.

These actions will have a disproportionate effect on our most vulnerable populations, as low-income neighborhoods near highways and industrial plants will experience the highest level of exposure.

All of these rollbacks have happened since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the US. This is inexcusable. Please reverse these decisions to protect us from more severe COVID 19 infection.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]
[Your Email]