One of the best-documented impacts of climate change is an increase in ground-level ozone smog concentrations due to rising temperatures. While this form of pollution is on the rise, Congress wants to cut funding to the Clean Air Act that would reduce funds for enforcements of limits on mercury and cancer-causing toxic pollution. Congress also wants to prohibit all work by EPA to address carbon pollution including a critical right-to-know program that gives communities the tools to identify the biggest polluter in their neighborhoods.
The EPA would like to see the condition of the air we breathe improve. Last month they proposed Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, a Clean Air protection that would set limits to power plant mercury emissions. Mercury emissions are linked to developmental disorders, cancer and asthma.
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that is controllable but not curable. Pollution irritates our airways by constricting, producing mucus and swelling that result in a reduced ability to breath, coughing and wheezing.
Asthma discriminates. In Ohio, those making less than $15,000 a year are twice as likely to develop asthma as those who make over $50,000. Male children are more likely to develop asthma than female children while female adults are more likely to develop asthma than male adults. While 13% of Ohioans suffer from asthma, in Lucas County the rate is 15% and among African-American children the rate is 20%. The highest asthma rates in Ohio are along the Lake Erie coastlines.
Asthma keeps children out of school and adults out of the workplace.
An estimated 30% of childhood asthma is due to environmental exposures. Air pollution may also contribute to the development of asthma in previously healthy people.
In addition to the health benefits, the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards is good for our economy. It will increase the demand for pollution-control technology and workers to install it. It will close all loopholes for big polluters and give our cleanest power generators at a competitive advantage.
Now is the time to go forward to protect our citizens form unnecessary forms of pollution.
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