Trump Administration Prioritizes Polluters Over Protecting Communities from Particulate Pollution

Washington, D.C. -- Today, former coal lobbyist Andrew Wheeler rejected pleas from experts to increase the EPA’s protections for Americans from dangerous soot pollution released from power plants. The American Lung Association (ALA) states that chronic exposure to particle pollution can shorten a person’s life up to three years, while the World Health Organization concluded that particle pollution causes lung cancer.

Based on a Harvard University study published last week, particulate pollution (soot, dust, smoke and other air toxics) is linked to higher death rates from COVID-19 and comes from sources such as coal plants and vehicle tailpipe emissions. This is the first nationwide analysis directly correlating the coronavirus and other diseases to long-term exposure to air pollution from fine particulate matter.

Over the past few weeks, amidst the public health crisis, Donald Trump and Andrew Wheeler have announced additional rollbacks resulting in more future air pollution.

John Coequyt, Sierra Club’s Global Climate Policy Director released the following statement:  

“It’s disgraceful that, in the middle of a pandemic, Andrew Wheeler and the Trump administration continue to abandon and further endanger communities -- especially those hit the hardest by this crisis -- across the country. Just last week, it was reported that a person living for decades in a county with high levels of air pollution from particulate matter is 15% more likely to be killed by the coronavirus. Rather than take action to protect American lives,  Wheeler has once again chosen to do polluters’ bidding instead. The American people deserve a president and an administration that always prioritizes their health and safety, but especially in the middle of a pandemic.”