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New U.S. Fuel Standards Aim to Cut Asthma and Heart Attacks
Source: CNBC, Reuters
The Obama administration on Monday announced new fuel and automobile rules to cut soot, smog and toxic emissions, which it says will reduce asthma and heart attacks in the United States.
The rules unveiled by the Environmental Protection Agency will cut sulfur levels in gasoline by more than 60 percent and will be phased in between 2017 and 2025.
Health advocates praised the move, while a petroleum refiners' group called the compliance schedule unrealistic and warned that these regulations and others would eventually raise gasoline prices throughout the country.
"By reducing these pollutants and making our air healthier, we will bring relief to those suffering from asthma, other lung diseases and cardiovascular disease, and to the nation as a whole," said Dr. Albert Rizzo, former chairman of the American Lung Association.
Read more: http://www.cnbc.com/id/101463345
13 replies
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= new reply since forum marked as read
http://sierraclub.typepad.com/michaelbrune/2014/03/tier-3-tailpipe-standards-smog-pollution-climate.html
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MARCH 03, 2014
MOVING CARS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
Everybody knows that standing in front of a moving car is dangerous, but what about standing behind one? Currently, four out of ten Americans live in a place where the air is sometimes dangerous to breathe, thanks in part to smog from cars and trucks. Today, the Obama administration finalized cleaner tailpipe standards that will help us all breathe easier.
Beginning in 2017, these cleaner tailpipe standards will require that refiners produce cleaner-burning, lower-sulfur gasoline, and that automakers use advanced pollution control technology on new cars. Although the impact of cleaner new cars will be felt over time, the cleaner gasoline will be used by all cars, old and new, and reduce pollution almost immediately. In the first year alone, smog-forming NOx emissions will be reduced by 260,000 tons. That's like taking 33 million cars off the road -- nearly two out of every ten cars in the U.S.
Cleaner tailpipe standards mean cleaner air, and cleaner air has real health benefits. Smog pollution, or ground-level ozone, can cause asthma attacks, respiratory disease, and even premature death. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that by 2030 these cleaner tailpipe standards will prevent roughly 2,000 premature deaths a year, along with reducing hospital admissions and asthma attacks.
That's good news for everyone, but it's especially important for families who live near a major road. According to the American Lung Association, living or working near a major roadway results in a greater risk of health problems, especially for children and teenagers.
Disappointingly, the oil industry did everything it could to derail or delay these health-protecting standards. They failed in part because the standards will dramatically clean our air for less than a penny a gallon, all while creating jobs. A study by Navigant Economics found that these standards would create almost 5,400 permanent jobs in the operation and maintenance of new refinery equipment, as well as more than 24,000 new jobs during the three years it takes to install that equipment.
The economic and employment benefits of the standards explain the strong support for them from automakers, auto parts manufacturers, and the United Auto Workers.
These cleaner tailpipe standards mark the third time that President Obama has acted to make our cars and trucks cleaner and more efficient. In 2012, finalizing historic vehicle standards of 54.5 miles per gallon was the biggest single step any country had ever taken to reduce climate-disrupting pollution. Then, just two weeks ago, the president directed his administration to move forward with the next round of fuel-economy standards for tractor-trailers and delivery trucks.
Eventually, cars and trucks that run on gas will be found in museums instead of garages, and the smog and health problems they caused will only be bad memories. Until that day, though, we can be thankful for these standards, which will eliminate so much pollution for so little cost.
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MARCH 03, 2014
MOVING CARS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
Everybody knows that standing in front of a moving car is dangerous, but what about standing behind one? Currently, four out of ten Americans live in a place where the air is sometimes dangerous to breathe, thanks in part to smog from cars and trucks. Today, the Obama administration finalized cleaner tailpipe standards that will help us all breathe easier.
Beginning in 2017, these cleaner tailpipe standards will require that refiners produce cleaner-burning, lower-sulfur gasoline, and that automakers use advanced pollution control technology on new cars. Although the impact of cleaner new cars will be felt over time, the cleaner gasoline will be used by all cars, old and new, and reduce pollution almost immediately. In the first year alone, smog-forming NOx emissions will be reduced by 260,000 tons. That's like taking 33 million cars off the road -- nearly two out of every ten cars in the U.S.
Cleaner tailpipe standards mean cleaner air, and cleaner air has real health benefits. Smog pollution, or ground-level ozone, can cause asthma attacks, respiratory disease, and even premature death. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that by 2030 these cleaner tailpipe standards will prevent roughly 2,000 premature deaths a year, along with reducing hospital admissions and asthma attacks.
That's good news for everyone, but it's especially important for families who live near a major road. According to the American Lung Association, living or working near a major roadway results in a greater risk of health problems, especially for children and teenagers.
Disappointingly, the oil industry did everything it could to derail or delay these health-protecting standards. They failed in part because the standards will dramatically clean our air for less than a penny a gallon, all while creating jobs. A study by Navigant Economics found that these standards would create almost 5,400 permanent jobs in the operation and maintenance of new refinery equipment, as well as more than 24,000 new jobs during the three years it takes to install that equipment.
The economic and employment benefits of the standards explain the strong support for them from automakers, auto parts manufacturers, and the United Auto Workers.
These cleaner tailpipe standards mark the third time that President Obama has acted to make our cars and trucks cleaner and more efficient. In 2012, finalizing historic vehicle standards of 54.5 miles per gallon was the biggest single step any country had ever taken to reduce climate-disrupting pollution. Then, just two weeks ago, the president directed his administration to move forward with the next round of fuel-economy standards for tractor-trailers and delivery trucks.
Eventually, cars and trucks that run on gas will be found in museums instead of garages, and the smog and health problems they caused will only be bad memories. Until that day, though, we can be thankful for these standards, which will eliminate so much pollution for so little cost.
http://now.tufts.edu/articles/big-road-blues-pollution-highways
Big Road Blues
Living near a highway can be bad for your health in a million small ways
By David Levin
August 16, 2012
Big Road Blues
Living near a highway can be bad for your health in a million small ways
By David Levin
August 16, 2012
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More: http://www.stateoftheair.org/2013/health-risks/health-risks-near-highways.html
http://www.momscleanairforce.org/tier-3-2/
MCAF SUPPORTS TIER 3 VEHICLE EMISSION AND FUEL STANDARDS
BY GRETCHEN ALFONSO ON MARCH 3, 2014
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Today EPA finalized a landmark public health standard to reduce sulfur in gasoline. This standard, called the Tier 3 rules, will dramatically reduce air pollution from car emissions at a cost to the consumer of less than a penny per gallon. As the oil and gas industries are among the wealthiest in the world–and receive huge tax subsidies by the US government — this will not make a dent in their bottom lines. Meanwhile, it will prevent thousands of premature deaths, asthma attacks, and respiratory illnesses each year.
Just about two years ago I was living in Pennsport, a traditionally blue-colored neighborhood nestled in South Philadelphia along the Delaware River. It was one of those beautiful mid-March spring days – you know the one, where you throw open the windows to let in the fresh air after a long winter and head out to the park to soak in all the warmth and sun you can manage. That afternoon I came home to put my two happy and exhausted kids down for a nap. Fiona, just 11 months, began wheezing and her lips turned blue. It was her first asthma attack. My heart aches remembering the terror on her face as we strapped the nebulizer mask to her face and her tiny hands fought to pull it off.
What triggered her first attack? What is unique to Pennsport, outside of the hardworking families and famous Mummers, is a raised portion of Interstate 95, a six-lane stretch of highway that separates that neighborhood from the waterfront as heavy traffic flows along the northeast corridor. When I opened our windows to the spring air, I let in the tailpipe emissions from the heavily trafficked I-95, just 2 blocks from my home. Yes, asthma runs in my husband’s family, but I knew then that our proximity to I-95 was bad for my children’s health, and the health of the families in my neighborhood.
My story isn’t unusual. In fact, 50 million Americans live and breathe near major roadways. Fiona isn’t unusual either, because every year millions of children have to breathe the pollution from trucks and cars that travel across America’s highways. For some children, like Fiona, that air pollution can trigger serious health effects.
That is why I applaud the finalization of these auto emissions standards. What do these standards mean for moms? They will prevent tens of thousands of respiratory illness in children so mothers across the US can now spend less time worrying about the quality of the air in their neighborhoods and more time with their families. Mothers of children with asthma can now rest assured that good policies are in place that will slash ozone precursors by 80%, and regulate harmful particulate matter. Mothers can also rest assured that these standards will provide immediate benefits to our children. Mothers, like myself, are full of gratitude that our voices were heard and our children’s health put first.
<>
MCAF SUPPORTS TIER 3 VEHICLE EMISSION AND FUEL STANDARDS
BY GRETCHEN ALFONSO ON MARCH 3, 2014
[img]
[/img]
Today EPA finalized a landmark public health standard to reduce sulfur in gasoline. This standard, called the Tier 3 rules, will dramatically reduce air pollution from car emissions at a cost to the consumer of less than a penny per gallon. As the oil and gas industries are among the wealthiest in the world–and receive huge tax subsidies by the US government — this will not make a dent in their bottom lines. Meanwhile, it will prevent thousands of premature deaths, asthma attacks, and respiratory illnesses each year.
Just about two years ago I was living in Pennsport, a traditionally blue-colored neighborhood nestled in South Philadelphia along the Delaware River. It was one of those beautiful mid-March spring days – you know the one, where you throw open the windows to let in the fresh air after a long winter and head out to the park to soak in all the warmth and sun you can manage. That afternoon I came home to put my two happy and exhausted kids down for a nap. Fiona, just 11 months, began wheezing and her lips turned blue. It was her first asthma attack. My heart aches remembering the terror on her face as we strapped the nebulizer mask to her face and her tiny hands fought to pull it off.
What triggered her first attack? What is unique to Pennsport, outside of the hardworking families and famous Mummers, is a raised portion of Interstate 95, a six-lane stretch of highway that separates that neighborhood from the waterfront as heavy traffic flows along the northeast corridor. When I opened our windows to the spring air, I let in the tailpipe emissions from the heavily trafficked I-95, just 2 blocks from my home. Yes, asthma runs in my husband’s family, but I knew then that our proximity to I-95 was bad for my children’s health, and the health of the families in my neighborhood.
My story isn’t unusual. In fact, 50 million Americans live and breathe near major roadways. Fiona isn’t unusual either, because every year millions of children have to breathe the pollution from trucks and cars that travel across America’s highways. For some children, like Fiona, that air pollution can trigger serious health effects.
That is why I applaud the finalization of these auto emissions standards. What do these standards mean for moms? They will prevent tens of thousands of respiratory illness in children so mothers across the US can now spend less time worrying about the quality of the air in their neighborhoods and more time with their families. Mothers of children with asthma can now rest assured that good policies are in place that will slash ozone precursors by 80%, and regulate harmful particulate matter. Mothers can also rest assured that these standards will provide immediate benefits to our children. Mothers, like myself, are full of gratitude that our voices were heard and our children’s health put first.
<>
http://www.momscleanairforce.org/wp-content/uploads/MRTier-3-testimony-final-4.24.13.pdf
MCAF MEMBER’S TIER 3 TESTIMONY
Moms Clean Air Force is proud to have its members testify before various governmental bodied in support of the work we do – cleaning up the air for our children. Here is a PDF transcript of member Molly Rauch testifying at a public hearing in Philadelphia in support of the EPA’s Tier 3 Motor Vehicle and Emission and Fuel Standards.
MCAF MEMBER’S TIER 3 TESTIMONY
Moms Clean Air Force is proud to have its members testify before various governmental bodied in support of the work we do – cleaning up the air for our children. Here is a PDF transcript of member Molly Rauch testifying at a public hearing in Philadelphia in support of the EPA’s Tier 3 Motor Vehicle and Emission and Fuel Standards.
climaterealityproject.org tweet
40% of carbon pollution emitted in the U.S. comes from power plants. This pollution drives #climate change & threatens our future.
A groundbreaking new standard to limit carbon pollution from new power plants help(s) ensure a safer, cleaner, and healthier future (and) has been proposed by the EPA.
http://forms.climaterealityproject.org/page/content/Make-carbon-pollution-a-thing-of-the-past
http://forms.climaterealityproject.org/page/s/my-reason-to-make-carbon-history
More at link.
40% of carbon pollution emitted in the U.S. comes from power plants. This pollution drives #climate change & threatens our future.
A groundbreaking new standard to limit carbon pollution from new power plants help(s) ensure a safer, cleaner, and healthier future (and) has been proposed by the EPA.
http://forms.climaterealityproject.org/page/content/Make-carbon-pollution-a-thing-of-the-past
http://forms.climaterealityproject.org/page/s/my-reason-to-make-carbon-history
More at link.
EPA tweet
Kids & @CleanAirMoms stopped by today to deliver comments on the new power plant rule.
We must #ActOnClimate for them pic.twitter.com/hmkE51T4N1
Kids & @CleanAirMoms stopped by today to deliver comments on the new power plant rule.
We must #ActOnClimate for them pic.twitter.com/hmkE51T4N1
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Photo by @toxicbabymovie 9h
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Photo by @toxicbabymovie 9h
http://www.momscleanairforce.org/our-partners/
http://www.momscleanairforce.org/author/dominique-browning/
http://www.momscleanairforce.org/our-videos/
