Pulling Heartstrings? You Bet!

by Dominique Browning|Posted in: Economics, politics, pollution|

Another day, another deadline—moms know what that’s like. But this time it means more great news for American families. After 15 years of such profound government torpor that to call it “foot-dragging” would be a compliment, the EPA has finally proposed new standards for soot pollution—the fine particles that are emitted from vehicles, power plants, and fires. The comment deadline is August 31, 2012, with two public hearings scheduled: Philadelphia, July 17 and Sacramento, July 19.

Soot causes health problems because we breathe in the particle pollution, which is too small to be expelled easily by breathing; it lodges deeply in our lungs and stays there. Soot is a potent asthma attack trigger—and causes heart attacks and strokes, among other things. Moms Clean Air Force writer Molly Rauch has created a helpfully detailed post for us : 5 Reasons Moms Need A Strong Soot Standard . And we want them to be even stronger!

Once again, the Environmental Protection Agency has opened a “comment period” to make your voice heard. We all have a chance to tell Administrator Jackson that we not only appreciate the new soot standards, but we want them strengthened, and enacted, ASAP. The U.S. District Court for D. C. has actually ordered EPA and Congress to speed up the rulemaking process—because of the huge health implications of the new standards, and because we’ve already had fifteen years of delay. And we wonder why the incidence of asthma in this country is skyrocketing—a walloping 9% of children in this country suffer from this cruel disease.

Recently, a coal industry lobbyist was quoted complaining that those of us who want strong protections against pollution, including the American Lung Association, are “playing on the heartstrings.” I say, You betcha! Imagine how cold-blooded you have to get to complain that our concerns are focused on what pollution does to our children’s health. The alternative? Take money to protect polluters’ right to pollute.

I’ll play heartstrings over purse strings any day.

PLEASE SUPPORT STRONG LIMITS ON HARMFUL SOOT EMISSIONS

Posted in: Economics, politics, pollution|
  • Kenneth A. Roberson

    Dear coal industry lobbyist, I know your just doing your job. After all that's what they pay you to do. To pump unknown amounts of dollars into contributions and favors or whatever it's called and convince politicians that it's not that bad. Please forgive my poor penmanship, I'm just an average person. I don't run a charity or know how to present discussions such as this. I never went to college or law school. I just wanted to let you know that if one of your children or a loved one came down with some form of lung disease or cancer. I will still pray for your family.

  • janis

    I lived for ten years on the Texas coast….ten miles from a carbon black plant…when I develped respiratory problems, the local pharmarist….told me that 50% of the people in that small town has breathing problems…another friend who had done some work in the plant…said the employees told him….we release the toxins at night….when the control people are gone…at night..the plant has an orange glow….

  • http://RAWSEP Ernest Grolimund

    Great article and suggestion: pull the heart strings !!! Tell them what it is like for a parent to ear her daughter say: "Mommy, I can't breate !!!" The smoke is too much !!!Tell them that this is what the pollution does. It does not matter where the pollution comes from, whether power plants, wood stoves next door, or car pollution filling up valleys like the LA Basin. It all has to be stopped by DHHS Essential Services website writings and if the DHHS has to call in the EPA to change rules based on constitutional rights to life and health, then it must be done. The Golden Rule calls for us all to love or care for our neighbors. Thanks.