The EPA has posted new standards for vehicle emissions that will eliminate sulfur in gasoline emissions. Sulfur is linked to asthma and other respiratory problems. The EPA estimates that this move will eliminate 2,200 hospital admissions and asthma-related emergency room visits and 19,000 asthma attacks per year! This is being hailed as a major public health victory and will especially improve air quality for those who live near high traffic areas. It is expected to raise costs of gasoline by no more than a penny a gallon.

PVAC advocated these standards by signing on to statements with the ALA-NE and AAFA (see letter below). This is a great win for our community and our country. Learn more:

• NY Times article
  
• American Lung Association Northeast statement
  
• EPA materials
  

A Letter from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America on March 3, 2014: 

Dear Advocates,

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took a great step to protect the air we breathe! The agency finalized new emissions standards for gasoline and vehicles that will significantly reduce pollution by cutting the amount of soot, smog, and toxic emissions from motor vehicles. In turn, these clean air protections will safeguard the health of Americans, preventing thousands of premature illnesses and deaths. By the year 2030, the standards will prevent 19,000 asthma attacks and save up to 2,000 lives!

To learn more about the emissions standards, please click here. You can also read about the EPA's decision in the New York Times article EPA Set To Reveal Tough New Sulfur Emissions Rule.

Thank you to everyone who took action to encourage the EPA to implement stricter emissions regulations. Your efforts have led to this wonderful victory for both clean air and public health.

Sincerely,

AAFA

ARISE for Social Justice, Partners for a Healthier Community and Pioneer Valley Asthma Coalition are joining together to work on air quality in Springfield's neighborhoods. Tell us your observations about air pollution and traffic in your neighborhood.

If you're from another town, but work or play in Springfield, feel free to to take the survey and tell us what you see when you're in Springfield.

Take the survey.

The Massachusetts Healthy Air Campaign is a group of over two dozen statewide and local health organizations. They are concerned about Massachusetts’ air quality and the recent attempts to weaken the Clean Air Act in Congress. They are committed to defending and protecting the Clean Air Act – a cornerstone law that has been working effectively to make our air healthier for over 40 years. Learn more information about the campaign and its members (PDF).

ALA is advocating for finalization of Tier 3 standards - the Clean Gasoline and Clean Vehicles standards. These standards should have been finalized by December and have now been delayed until February. To push for this new deadline to be met ALA is organizing a letter written from the perspective of medical and health professionals who are calling on the White House to finish the job.

Please sign the letter and share with your colleagues/staff/board who have medical/health credentials MD, RN, LPN, RT, MPH, CAE, PhD, etc.

Sign the letter on clean cars and vehicles.

 On November 20, 2013, MassLive published the article "Ending coal output at Mt. Tom improves region's health" written by Nancy Jenks, RN, our school nurse asthma champion in Chicopee! Read the article on MassLive or below:

"As a nurse who serves a high population of students with asthma in the Chicopee schools, I was thrilled to see legislation on coal plants gain attention (“As light dims on coal, host communities seek redevelopment help,” The Republican, Nov. 12).

Emissions from coal-burning power plants are harmful to respiratory health and children, who play outside frequently and have growing lungs, are more vulnerable to these pollutants.

In Chicopee we have Mt. Tom, a coal power plant in our backyard and higher than the state average childhood asthma rates to go with it. On days with heavy air pollution, my clinic is full of kids who are coughing, wheezing and short of breath. Their oxygen saturation levels are usually quite low and their lungs sound tight and diminished, which is a major concern.

Given that Mt. Tom is likely retiring, I was pleased to see that the legislation includes a fund to help redevelop retired coal plants and provide training for workers who will lose jobs.

While communities pay the high price of the health impact of air pollution produced by these plants, it’s also important to support them by replacing this tax base, as well as those who need to put food on the table."

- NANCY JENKS, RN, Chicopee Public Schools