Positive steps toward cleaner air

Last week the Environmental Protection Agency released new standards that will limit emissions of pollutants like mercury, arsenic, lead, sulfur dioxide, cyanide and other toxins from coal-burning power plants and other industrial sources. Pressure from the coal industry, concerned about the cost of pollution-control equipment, has delayed implementation of these tougher restrictions for over 20 years.

The American Lung Association estimates that the EPA’s actions will prevent 17,000 premature deaths and 120,000 asthma attacks each year. When present in high enough concentrations in pregnant women, mercury can impair development of the fetal nervous system, potentially leading to brain damage, learning disabilities or hearing loss. These regulations will reduce health risk, particularly in children, and also save us money by reducing visits to health care providers.

In the past year some members of Congress have attempted to strip the EPA of funding and the authority to do its job. I hope that the Illinois delegation will strongly oppose these attempts to minimize costs to industrial polluters at the expense of public health.

The EPA received more than 900,000 comments from the public supporting the air toxins rule. We should applaud the EPA for its persistent efforts to reduce toxins in our air and protect our health. Those efforts have finally paid off, yet there are a myriad of serious environmental issues the EPA must address the either directly or indirectly affect our well being. This Agency needs our continued support.

Christopher G. Peterson

Environmental Science Department

Loyola University Chicago