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Climate change’s threats to human health and life are growing. Will you join our latest effort to roll back climate change?
Protect our air from mercury and toxic gases
June 1, 2011
After 20 years of delay, the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) has proposed new standards to
protect us from toxic air pollution including mercury, arsenic, and acid
gases. This proposed safeguard would reduce heart attacks, save thousands of
lives, and protect the developing brains of fetuses, infants and children.
The pollution comes from coal-fired
and oil-fired power plants, which are responsible for half the mercury air pollution and over half the acid
gases emitted in the country. The proposed standards would capture 91% of the mercury emissions from
coal-fired power plants, 91% of their acid
gas emissions, and 53% of their sulfur dioxide emissions.
The standards would also cut particulate matter, thus reducing asthma attacks
and other respiratory diseases as well as premature deaths from heart disease,
stroke, and lung cancer.
These dramatic improvements in air
quality can be attained using already-existing pollution control technologies. In other words, they are technologically proven and readily achievable.
Further delay after so many years
of unnecessary loss of life is not acceptable.
Please sign on to the linked comments to the EPA. You can edit them to your liking, or add your
name and send the comments as-is.
Take Action »
Resources
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Hope for a Heated Planet
Author Bob Musil, former PSR executive director and now scholar-in-residence at American University, has written an insightful and informative account about the climate change issue and how it has finally emerged in the public’s mind as a major public health concern. Read more »
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Extreme Weather Impacts on Public Health
Dr. Catherine Thomasson's presentation at the Woodrow Wilson Center on April 10, 2013 on the effects of climate change. Read more »
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Climate Change Flyer
Handout was developed by writer Bruni Estrada and graphic designer Daniel Pizarro, in collaboration with Mathias Pollock, Program Coordinator - Student PSR. To see more of Daniel's graphic design work visit http://www.danielpizarro.info. Read more »
In the Spotlight
September 20, 2013
Conference: Climate Smart Southwest
Build new and fortify existing cross-cultural, community, and governmental partnerships to educate and engage community action to address the anticipated public health impacts of climate change in the Southwest, September 20-21.