Today is International Clean Air For Blue Skies Day.
Today we acknowledge the health effects of air pollution, how burning fuels (fossil or biofuels) creates both air pollution and climate-changing greenhouse gases.
Most importantly we acknowledge THE GOOD NEWS: IF WE STOP BURNING FUELS, WE WILL SAVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF LIVES EACH YEAR, AND VASTLY IMPROVE OUR HEALTH.
And even better, because air pollution is so unequal in where levels are higher, we will help reduce health disparities for black and brown people. This is true in the U.S., and for the whole world. We all share air across state and international borders, and pollutants that stay in the atmosphere 20 or more years affect everyone.
Remember that if we clean up air pollution, we see health improvements WITHIN WEEKS.
What are the health benefits of air pollution?
Fewer deaths: particulate (PM2.5) air pollution from fossil fuels causes 13% of all deaths in the U.S., and nitrogen dioxide causes 1.6% of all deaths.
Fewer hospitalizations for pneumonia, lung cancer, COPD, strokes, heart attacks, and heart failure, asthma. Even when air pollution levels are below current standards, it still causes more heart attacks. Higher long-term ozone air pollution is as bad for people with emphysema as smoking a pack a day of cigarettes.
Fewer premature births, improved growth and cognitive function in young children. Air pollution damages children’s lung growth, and causes asthma and asthma attacks. It even affects their ability to learn in school and do well in P.E. class.
Fewer respiratory infections such as influenza, Covid, and RSV. Air pollution has been shown to increase the number of people who get covid, and it makes them get sicker when they have covid.
And most important, if we stop burning fuels, we help fight environmental injustice and health disparities. Studies have shown that air pollution is worse in formerly red-lined areas, and that there are exposure disparities for many sources of air pollution.
Don’t forget that not only does air pollution make us sick, it hurts the economy. It decreases crop yields, slows workers down, and increases work absences – all this costs the economy billions and billions of dollars every year. It even makes the stock market go down!
Our government programs and budgets are in silos, but our health isn’t. Transportation, factories, and power plants all affect our health.
We have the tools we need for clean air, let’s get busy and get to work cleaning up!
