#11 celebrates over 160,000 lives saved in 2010, thanks to the
Clean Air Act
2010 marks 40th Anniversary of this landmark legislation
Washington, DC /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ - The American Lung
Association has released its list of eleven biggest 'clean air'
events of 2010. Eight events marked milestones that provide greater
protection from dangerous air pollutants, while three represented
delays that have life-threatening consequences.
The Lung Association issued the list of 'clean air' events in
honor of the 40th anniversary of the Clean Air Act, the historic law
that has helped protect Americans from breathing dirty, unhealthy
air, and an event celebrated on the list.
Passed by a bipartisan Congress in 1970, the Clean Air Act has
succeeded in enabling the U.S. to cut emissions of the six most
widespread air pollutants by 60 percent, while the economy grew by
over 200 percent. In 2010 alone, the Clean Air Act has saved the
lives of over 160,000 people, according to preliminary estimates.
"Everyone has a right to breathe healthy air. The Clean Air Act
is a promise that our lawmakers made to the American people to make
the air we all breathe safer. That promise must be kept," said
Charles D. Connor, President and CEO, American Lung Association.
America has much cleaner air than it did in 1970. The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency is tasked with enforcing the Clean
Air Act and while progress was made this year on many fronts, delays
have stalled efforts needed to provide the health protections
promised under the Act.
The eleven biggest 'clean air' events of 2010 included the
following:
- Old, dirty diesel engines cleaned up. Dirty diesel
school buses and other diesel equipment across the nation got
much cleaner thanks to major investments this year. Congress
invested $300 million to clean up dirty diesel engines in
2009-2010 under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act
(ARRA). Congress also invested in Diesel Emissions Reduction Act
(DERA) programs, including $77 million in grants to clean up
school buses, trucks, and construction equipment.
- Stronger limits on toxics from cement kilns. EPA took
final action to significantly reduce emissions of mercury, acid
gases, particulate matter and other air pollutants from 158
Portland cement kilns in the United States. Cleaning up these
emissions will save as many as 2,500 lives each year by 2013.
- Cleanup of ocean-going ships steering for U.S. ports.
Exhaust spewing from the diesel engines on large ocean-going
ships can pollute areas hundreds of miles from the coast. EPA
can now require all international ships within 200 nautical
miles of U.S. waters to limit emissions similar to rules U.S.
marine diesel engines must meet. These and other changes will
save up to 30,000 lives a year by 2030 when the changes are
fully in place.
- New limits on tailpipe exhaust. In 2010, the EPA put
in place a historic national program to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, including carbon dioxide and other air pollutants,
from cars, SUVs and light trucks.
- First new limits in 39 years on two dangerous pollutants.
For the first time since 1971, EPA strengthened the official
limits, called the national air quality standard, on nitrogen
dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2). The new standards will
protect vulnerable individuals and communities who live or work
near major roads and highways and near power plants.
- Cleanup proposed for power plants that spew smog and
soot. In July, EPA proposed the Clean Air Transport Rule to
cut emissions from power plants that create ozone (smog) and
particle pollution (soot). This rule targets power plant
pollution blown across state lines, helping reduce air pollution
in communities in the Northeast, Midwest and Southeastern
states.
- Delay in cleaning up toxic industrial pollution. In
April, EPA proposed steps to reduce toxic air emissions of
mercury, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and acid gases
from industrial plants, commercial settings and large
institutions. However, in December EPA announced it wanted to
delay the final rule long past the original January 2011
deadline. Unfortunately, the delay means that vulnerable
individuals and burdened communities near these facilities will
continue to have to breathe these industrial poisons until EPA
acts.
- Delay in protecting children's health from ozone smog.
In December, EPA announced that it would delay setting
protective new limits for ground-level ozone (smog). Ozone is
the most widespread pollutant in the nation, triggers children's
asthma attacks and can even kill. This announcement marked the
third delay following the January 2010, proposal to strengthen
the current limit set in 2008. EPA's delay in setting a final
national air quality standard means that cleanup measures across
the country will be delayed at least six more months, continuing
the risk to lives and health.
- Delay in protecting public health from particle
pollution. EPA planned to propose new national limits, or
standards, for particle pollution (soot) in November 2010, but
delayed that announcement until February 2011. Particle
pollution can shorten life, cause asthma attacks, heart attacks,
and strokes. EPA's delay means that more lives remain at risk of
early death for longer, as particle levels remain much too high.
- Monitoring air pollution from Gulf oil spill. In
response to the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the
cleanup efforts during the spring and summer of 2010, EPA
closely monitored air pollutants that posed threats to the
health of residents and cleanup personnel along the Gulf Coast.
EPA posted all the monitoring data on its website.
- 160,000 lives saved this year thanks to the Clean Air
Act. Passed in 1970 by Congress, the Act has succeeded in
enabling the U.S. to cut emissions of the six most widespread
air pollutants by 60 percent since then, all while the economy
grew by over 200 percent, according to EPA's analysis. In 2010
alone, the Clean Air Act's public health protections saved the
lives of over 160,000 people, according to EPA's preliminary
estimates.
For more information on 2010's biggest 'clean air' events, please
visit the American Lung Association's presentation online:
www.lungusa.org/11-clean-air-events
About the American Lung Association
Now in its second century, the American Lung Association is the
leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health
and preventing lung disease. With your generous support, the
American Lung Association is "Fighting for Air" through research,
education and advocacy. For more information about the American Lung
Association, a Charity Navigator Four Star Charity and holder of the
Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Guide Seal, or to support the
work it does, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or visit
www.LungUSA.org.
Note to Editors: To view a photo presentation online, visit
www.lungusa.org/11-clean-air-events
SOURCE American Lung Association
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