Biden administration cracks down on air pollution, citing links to deadly illnesses
The Biden administration on Wednesday announced a new air quality standard that aims to prevent deadly illnesses linked to pollutants.
The Biden administration on Wednesday announced a new air quality standard that aims to prevent deadly illnesses linked to pollutants.
The standard cracks down on fine particulate matter — tiny particles in the air that can penetrate deep into the lungs. Much of this pollution in the air comes from the combustion of gasoline, oil, diesel fuel or wood, usually from sources such as factories, power plants, vehicles, wildfires or fireplaces.
The Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday that “a broad and growing body of science” links particulate matter to serious and sometimes fatal illnesses.
Long-term exposure can increase the risk of heart disease, lung cancer and chronic kidney disease, and may also be associated with an increased risk of neurological disorders. Short-term exposure can increase the risk of cardiac arrest, asthma attacks or stroke. Both types of exposure are directly linked to hospitalizations and deaths.
“It’s very clear that particulate matter kills people and makes people sick,” said Laura Kate Bender, assistant vice president for healthy air at the American Lung Association. “We’ve also seen over time that particulate matter is more dangerous at lower levels than was previously realized.”
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