Clean air saves health and wealth, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Estimates from a recent agency report projected that the benefits of reducing pollution under the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments will reach approximately $2 trillion in 2020 and save over 200,000 people from early death in that year alone, the agency said in a press release.
According to an EPA statement, “The Benefits and Costs of the Clean Air Act from 1990 to 2020,” examined the effects of Clean Air Act updates on the economy, public health, and the environment projected over three decades. A congressional panel of scientists, economists, and public health experts contributed to the EPA report and gave the study an extensive review. It is the third in a series of EPA studies required under the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments, estimating the benefits and costs of the act.
“The Clean Air Act’s decades-long track record of success has helped millions of Americans live healthier, safer, and more productive lives,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson in a statement. “This report outlines the extraordinary health and economic benefits of one of our nation’s most transformative environmental laws and demonstrates the power of bipartisan approaches to protecting the health of the American people from pollution in our environment.”
The report provided a thorough breakdown both of money saved and measurable health improvements from one year to the next. In 2010, the study found reductions in fine particle and ozone pollution brought by the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments prevented more than 130,000 heart attacks, 13 million lost workdays, and 1.7 million asthma attacks. The report projected that more than 200,000 heart attacks, 17 million lost workdays, and 2.4 million asthma attacks will be prevented by this amendment by the year 2020, according to a press release from the EPA.
It’s important to note that this report only estimated the benefits from the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments—additions and changes that built upon the Clean Air Act of 1970 and its 1977 amendments. The EPA said that the overall benefits of the Clean Air Act exceed those estimated in this report, with millions of lives saved since 1970.
The report found that the health benefits brought by the 1990 Clear Air Act amendments far exceed costs of implementing clean air protections. The EPA said in a press release that these benefits lead to a more productive workforce, and enable consumers and businesses to spend less on health care. Investments in clean air and water pay off 30 to 1, according to the EPA’s statement.
According to an EPA statement, “The Benefits and Costs of the Clean Air Act from 1990 to 2020,” examined the effects of Clean Air Act updates on the economy, public health, and the environment projected over three decades. A congressional panel of scientists, economists, and public health experts contributed to the EPA report and gave the study an extensive review. It is the third in a series of EPA studies required under the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments, estimating the benefits and costs of the act.
“The Clean Air Act’s decades-long track record of success has helped millions of Americans live healthier, safer, and more productive lives,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson in a statement. “This report outlines the extraordinary health and economic benefits of one of our nation’s most transformative environmental laws and demonstrates the power of bipartisan approaches to protecting the health of the American people from pollution in our environment.”
The report provided a thorough breakdown both of money saved and measurable health improvements from one year to the next. In 2010, the study found reductions in fine particle and ozone pollution brought by the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments prevented more than 130,000 heart attacks, 13 million lost workdays, and 1.7 million asthma attacks. The report projected that more than 200,000 heart attacks, 17 million lost workdays, and 2.4 million asthma attacks will be prevented by this amendment by the year 2020, according to a press release from the EPA.
It’s important to note that this report only estimated the benefits from the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments—additions and changes that built upon the Clean Air Act of 1970 and its 1977 amendments. The EPA said that the overall benefits of the Clean Air Act exceed those estimated in this report, with millions of lives saved since 1970.
The report found that the health benefits brought by the 1990 Clear Air Act amendments far exceed costs of implementing clean air protections. The EPA said in a press release that these benefits lead to a more productive workforce, and enable consumers and businesses to spend less on health care. Investments in clean air and water pay off 30 to 1, according to the EPA’s statement.
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