Look what happens when we clean up the air – people are healthier! Today we made a list of studies and stories about situations where clean healthy air helped improve people’s health, especially children’s health. We know it makes a difference!
- The Clean Air Act Update of 1990 led to major improvement in air quality over the next 20 years. As the air got cleaner, children who lived in southern California had healthier lungs that developed more fully and had better lung function. A similar study in Sweden also found improved lung development as the air got cleaner.
- As the Clean Air Act improved the air, children with asthma had fewer bronchitis symptoms. This was true for lots of air pollutants: ozone, both fine and coarse particles (PM2.5 and PM10), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2).
- In one county in Kentucky, when coal plants either closed or installed scrubbers, people with asthma were healthier and needed fewer inhalers, and there were 400 fewer ED visits or hospitalizations. The coal plants either closed or installed scrubbers because of the Mercury and Air Toxics rule. Read the MOCA story here.
- In California, when 8 coal plants closed, the rate of premature births for children born near the coal plant went from 7.0% to 5.1% – that is more than a 25% reduction in premature births!
- In Georgia, when school districts put filters on diesel school buses, children’s fitness (aerobic scores on the FitnessGram) improved, and their test scores did too. Read the MOCA story here.
- In China, when a coal plant closed, children had reduced levels of air pollution chemicals in their cord blood, and children’s mental development at age 2 years old improved.
- In Mongolia, when pregnant women had home air filters in their apartments while they were pregnant, their children had increased IQ at age 4. Read the MOCA story here.
- From 2005-2016 as coal plants closed, 26,000 lives were saved and farmers grew 570 more bushels of corn, wheat, and soybeans.
These are all good news about how cleaner air improves health and well-being, especially for children. It is really good to know that taking action really does make a difference! #HealthyAirIsHealthCare #WeAllThriveWithHealthyAir
07/10/2024 AKMB
