By: Hazel Chandler, Arizona State Coordinator, Moms Clean Air Force
Date: February 21, 2023
About: Environmental Protection Agency Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2015-0072
To: Environmental Protection Agency
Thank you for the opportunity to testify. My name is Hazel Chandler, and I am a field organizer with Moms Clean Air Force representing over 1.5 million moms nationwide and 26,000 moms in Arizona. Over 70 % of Arizona residents live in counties receiving failing grades for particle pollution. Daily, it is impacting our health and threatening our quality of life and increasing mortality risks. I have lived in cities with failing grades for air pollution for most of my adult life, and pollution spikes as well as cumulative damage have wreaked havoc with my health and are currently threatening to cut my life short. I am a mom, grandma, and recently a great grandmother living with asthma, respiratory issues, chronic inflammation, immune dysfunction, and stage 4 cancer.
For as long as I can remember, every time the pollution levels go up, I experience significant spikes in symptoms. I do not need an air quality alert to tell me what the levels are in my community, I feel it. Over the last 20-plus years, the episodes have been more serious and long lasting. In 2012, I was diagnosed with cancer and my doctors said that chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction were a significant contributing factor. Through extensive natural treatments, treatment for chronic inflammation, stimulating my immune system, and organic living I was able to keep the cancer at bay, but the pollution related episodes continued to increase in frequency and duration greatly impacting my quality of life and the cancer returned in 2021—now in the bones. It is now impacting my mobility and threatening to cut my life short.
An episode last fall almost did that. In July of last year, we had numerous days with significant pollution that began a cycle of serious respiratory and inflammatory issues. I had a cough that nothing could slow down. Coughing and sneezing was very painful. The pain got more intense, and I was diagnosed with a multiple compression fracture of my spine and ribs. According to my doctor, this was probably related to the intense coughing. In October 2022, I had to undergo a spinal fusion of my thoracic spine. My life will never be the same. I have constant pain, and the limited mobility has made simple tasks extremely difficult.
Scientists and health professionals tell us beyond a shadow of doubt that soot is wreaking havoc with our health. Maya Angelou and others tell us that when we know better, we must do better. The proposed soot standard is a step in the right direction but does not go far enough to protect my health and the million others that live with chronic health issues caused by soot. I call on you to enact the health protective standards for soot of 8 micrograms for the annual standard and 25 micrograms for the daily standard. Strengthening the annual standards are important, but we cannot ignore the damage that daily spikes have on our health.
While the damage in my body is done and my quality of life has been greatly impacted, I plead with you to have the courage to enact strong soot regulations without delay. Stronger standards would prevent needless stress and trauma for tens of thousands of families like mine.
We simply cannot afford to miss this opportunity to meaningfully address air pollution and act on environmental justice. Thank you for your work and thank you for your time.