Healthy Air Resources
The Facts | Educational Information | Join the Fight | Watch the Fighting for Air TV Ads
The Facts:
For the past 40 years, the Clean Air Act has protected families across the country from breathing high levels of toxic, life-threatening air pollution. Now, the rules that have helped keep the air we breathe healthy and safe are under attack. Congress is considering legislation that would eliminate some of our most basic protections against dirty and dangerous air and would make it harder for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to do its job.
The American Lung Association is working in conjunction with leading public health organizations and medical societies to make sure leaders in Washington do not weaken clean air protections.
- An overwhelming majority (69 percent) of Americans believe that Congress should not interfere with the EPA's authority to protect Americans from toxic air pollution. In fact, three out of four voters support the EPA setting tougher standards on specific air pollutants, including mercury, smog and carbon dioxide.
- The EPA's authority under the Clean Air Act to reduce dangerous pollution protects all Americans from the serious health effects associated with breathing toxic air. Time and again, medical studies have shown that pollution emitted by coal-fired power plants, old diesel engines, and other pollution sources result in premature death, pulmonary and cardiovascular inflammation, asthma attacks, heart attacks, and strokes, especially among our most vulnerable - children, elderly, the impoverished, and those already living with lung disease, heart disease or diabetes. In 2010 alone, 160,000 lives were saved by protections established under the Clean Air Act.
- The Clean Air Act has prevented harm to citizens across the nation. Last year, the Clean Air Act prevented 160,000 premature deaths, 1.7 million asthma attacks, and 54,000 cases of chronic bronchitis, as well as 41,000 respiratory and 45,000 cardiovascular hospital admissions.
- Forty years of evidence shows that following the Clean Air Act does not hurt the economy. Since 1970, the nation has cut emissions of the six most widespread air pollutants by over 60 percent, while the economy has grown by over 200 percent.
Congressional interference with and weakening of air pollution standards would result in serious health consequences for Americans. If EPA is allowed to do its job, the Clean Air Act will prevent 230,000 premature deaths in 2020 thanks to the continued cleanup of air pollution. Rolling back those protections would be a life-threatening mistake.
Educational Information:
Learn more about why healthy air is worth fighting for.
Join the Fight!
In every city in the U.S., the American Lung Association is Fighting for Air.
We're fighting for a day when we can all breathe healthy air, free of airborne poisons and secondhand smoke. We're fighting for kids who battle asthma, and anyone who is trying to quit smoking. We're fighting for you.
When you sign up to "Join the Fight," you'll receive advocacy alerts and newsletters to stay tuned into our efforts to make our air safer, indoors and out. You will learn about events in your community that benefit your local Lung Association. We'll also share updated findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as they work with us on influenza and air quality.
Every day, we're fighting for all the things that make air worth breathing, and there's so much you can do to help. Join us!
- Sign up for our email list using the form at the top of this page.
- Like us on Facebook.
- Follow us on Twitter.
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