Particulate matter pollution from the burning of fossil fuels drives 350,000 premature deaths in the US yearly, and 1 in 3 Americans live in counties with unhealthy air. The evidence shows that there is no level of air pollution deemed “safe” for health. This year, the Environmental Protection Agency is on the cusp of passing stronger limits for air pollution that can safeguard the health of millions of Americans. Unfortunately, industry pushback is threatening to derail these efforts.
On December 13th, the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health organized a meeting with the Office of Management and Budget to provide expert counsel on the health and environmental justice benefits of a stronger PM2.5 rule. A group of nine physicians from California, Florida, Virginia, Montana, Michigan, Missouri, and Massachusetts that included pediatricians, a pathologist, internists, and surgeons provided multiple patient stories demonstrating the health harms of fossil fuel pollution–premature labor, cardiovascular disease, and lung disease — while highlighting that these harms disproportionately harm communities of color and communities living in poverty. A stronger PM2.5 standard is essential to safeguarding health and promoting health equity.
You can read more about the importance of the rule here.
Send a letter to your governor asking them to protect our health and support a strong standard for PM2.5 pollution and ask your colleagues to do the same.