New study shows cleaner cars legislation will improve environment and health

NEW STUDY SHOWS CLEANER CARS LEGISLATION WILL IMPROVE
ILLINOIS' ENVIRONMENT AND ITS CHILDREN'S HEALTH

Chicago, IL—Today, experts in public health and the environment released a new report highlighting health benefits from passing clean cars legislation in Illinois (House Bill 3424). The Environmental Law & Policy Center’s (ELPC) report – Breathing Free in Illinois: Reducing Air Pollution and Improving Health through Cleaner Cars – shows about 16% reductions in "criteria" air pollutants and up to 21% for air toxics by the year 2030. The report is based on analyses by Cambridge Systematics and Dr. Jonathan Levy, Sc.D., an Associate Professor at the Harvard School of Public Health. To download the full report, go to www.cleancarsillinois.org.

“Passing clean cars legislation is an investment in our children’s health, safety and ability to breathe better,” stated Howard Learner, Executive Director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center. “Thirteen other states have already acted. Now it’s time for Illinois to step up and pass clean cars legislation that is a win-win-win for our children’s health, the green economy jobs of the future and our environment.”

According to the report, the air quality improvements would prevent up to 250,000 lost school days per year and would reduce deaths related to vehicle air pollution by 11% by 2030.

"It shouldn't come as a surprise that cleaner cars on the road would have benefits for health," stated Jonathan Levy, Sc.D., Associate Professor of Environmental Health and Risk Assessment, Harvard University School of Public Health. "But it is impressive to see how large the emissions and health benefit can be with just this one policy change. Because cars contribute a large fraction of many important pollutants in Illinois, including precursors of ozone and particulate matter, and because we drive more miles every year, emissions standards can play an important role in improving health and the environment."

Illinois has one of the highest asthma death rates in the U.S., an average of about 259 per year, with hospitalization rates double the national average. Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of air pollution because they spend more time outdoors during times when pollution is at its highest.

There are neighborhoods in Chicago where between a quarter and a third of children have asthma, a disease exacerbated by ozone smog pollution," stated Dr. Molly Martin, practicing pediatrician and Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Preventive Medicine at Rush University Medical Center. "Parents try to protect their children by reducing asthma triggers inside their homes and giving medications, but still their children suffer asthma attacks when playing outside on warm sunny days or walking through high traffic neighborhoods. Adopting clean car standards is one critical way that officials in Springfield can help keep children safe and prevent asthma attacks."

House Bill 3424, which requires automakers to manufacture less-polluting cars for Illinois drivers, has been introduced by Rep. Karen May and is supported in the Senate by Sen. Terry Link. It is cosponsored by 32 legislators. A coalition of public health, environment and children’s advocacy groups has endorsed the proposed legislation. The groups are listed at www.cleancarsillinois.org.

"California first set tighter pollution standards for cars in the early 1990's, and those standards weren't aimed at global warming. They were aimed at reducing ozone smog—pollution that chemically burns lung tissue and sends people to the hospital," stated Brian Urbaszewski, Director of Environmental Health Programs for Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago. "U.S. EPA just tightened the ozone health standard in March, but national medical groups and even EPA's own scientific advisors agree that this new tougher standard will still not adequately protect public health."