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Wednesday, June 1st, 2022

Eliminating Air Pollution Could Save More Than 53,000 Lives Per Year, Study Says

Author:     Chris Walker
Source:     truthout
Publication Date:     26 May 2022
 Link: Eliminating Air Pollution Could Save More Than 53,000 Lives Per Year, Study Says
Stephan:   You tell me, which should take priority, the wellbeing and continued life of 53,000 men, women, and children, or corporate profits? To me the answer seems simple, the wellbeing of the 53,000 take priority. But in America, corporate profits take priority, boo hoo, too bad for the 53,000.
Credit: Jeremy Walker / Stone / Getty

A new study has concluded that tens of thousands of premature deaths in the U.S. could be avoided if air pollution was reduced or completely eliminated.

The study, published by researchers from the University of Wisconsin (UW) in the journal GeoHealth on Monday, notes that, by eliminating air pollution resulting from energy-related activities in the U.S., more than 53,000 premature deaths could be avoided on an annual basis. The prevention of those deaths would also save $608 million in benefits relating to illnesses and deaths caused by air pollution.

The UW researchers reached this conclusion by analyzing data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and by using health models to gauge the benefits of eliminating air-polluting particulates, including sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.

“These [particles] get deep into the lungs and cause both respiratory and cardiac ailments,” said Jonathan Patz, a UW professor and one of the study’s authors. “They are pretty much the worst pollutant when it comes to mortality and hospitalization.”

While states could still potentially save lives if they acted alone, there would be […]

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