A new study shows that the United States could save tens of thousands of lives each year if it eliminated common air pollution from fossil fuels. This research highlights the enormous health benefits of switching to gasoline, oil, and coal.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison based on data from the Environmental Protection Agency estimate that approximately 50,000 premature deaths could be prevented if particulates, microscopic air pollutants, were removed in the U.S.
Jonathan Patz, a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor and one of the researchers of the study, said that these particles can penetrate the lungs. They are the most harmful pollutant in terms of hospitalizations and mortality.
The U.S. economy is also very expensive when it comes to premature death and hospitalization. According to the study, eliminating air pollution could save approximately $600 billion annually.
The main source of fine particulate contamination in the United States is from burning fossil fuels. This new study serves as a reminder that climate change is closely linked to public health. It can also save lives by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Scientists and regulators refer to fine particulates as PM2.5. They are pollutants that result from the burning of fossil fuels, wildfires and certain industrial processes. They measure 1/30th of the width of human hair and can lodge deep within the lungs.
According to the World Health Organization, outdoor air pollution is responsible for millions of premature deaths each year worldwide. According to a separate study, more than 1 million deaths could be prevented from fine particulate pollution in one year by reducing fossil fuel combustion.
The air quality in many parts of the United States is much better than the global average. However, the pollution levels are still dangerous, particularly for those who live near power plants, factories and highways. This includes a large number of neighborhoods that have been shaped by discriminatory government housing policies.
Patz, who for many decades has been studying the links between climate change, human health, and air pollution, says, “Even with the Clean Air Act in America, more than 100,000 Americans die prematurely each year from it.” It’s a serious health risk.
All fuels are not equally dangerous. Coal, for example, releases severe pollution. The United States is now burning less coal than it did a decade ago. Although the electricity sector has been cleaner, the study still attributes approximately 9,000 premature deaths to power plant pollution each year. The study shows that 11,000 premature deaths are caused by vehicles, including trucks, that use fossil fuels.