Move to zero-emission vans may end in $735 billion in public well being advantages over the subsequent 30 years and a extra equitable future
CHICAGO, Oct. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Truck visitors produces dangerous air pollution, and roughly 45% of residents residing in counties with main truck visitors are individuals of shade. According to a brand new report by the American Lung Association, switching to zero-emission vans and electrical energy would considerably scale back well being impacts and disparities in pollution-burdened communities which might be dwelling to main truck visitors.
The report, “Delivering Clean Air: Health Benefits of Zero-Emission Trucks and Electricity,” illustrates the potential well being advantages if all new medium- and heavy-duty automobiles bought are zero-emission by 2040. This new analysis builds on the Lung Association’s “Zeroing In on Healthy Air” analysis and focuses particularly on trucking corridors with 8,500 or extra vans journeys per day. It additionally tasks that the nation’s electrical grid will likely be powered by clear, non-combustion renewable vitality changing fossil fuels by 2035.
“A widespread transition to zero-emission trucks and electricity would improve health, especially in communities near major trucking routes,” mentioned Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association. “This transition would make important progress toward health equity.”
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 72 million Americans stay in shut proximity to heavy trucking corridors and “are more likely to be people of color and have lower incomes.” Air air pollution from vans in these areas has been linked to poor delivery outcomes, lowered lung and cognitive improvement, improvement and worsening of power respiratory and cardiovascular ailments, and elevated danger of dementia, most cancers and untimely dying.
In U.S. counties with main trucking routes, the transition to zero-emission heavy-duty transportation and clear, non-combustion vitality by 2050 would end in up to:
- $735 billion in cumulative well being advantages
- 66,800 averted deaths
- 1.75 million averted bronchial asthma assaults
- 8.5 million averted misplaced workdays
The U.S. counties that might see probably the most important well being advantages from a transition to zero-emission vans are:
- Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles-Long Beach metro space)
- Cook County, IL (Chicago–Naperville metro space)
- Harris County, TX (Houston–The Woodlands metro space)
- Orange County, CA (Los Angeles-Long Beach metro space)
- Palm Beach County, FL (Miami–Port St. Lucie–Fort Lauderdale metro space)
- Miami-Dade County, FL (Miami–Port St. Lucie–Fort Lauderdale metro space)
- Broward County, FL (Miami–Port St. Lucie–Fort Lauderdale metro space)
- San Diego County, CA (San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad metro space)
- Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix–Mesa metro space)
- Contra Costa County, CA (San Francisco–San Jose–Oakland metro space)
The shift from combustion applied sciences to zero-emission vans and electrical energy is required to minimize dangerous air pollution and curb local weather change. The transportation sector is a number one supply of air air pollution and the United States’ largest supply of carbon air pollution that drives local weather change and related public well being harms. Trucks characterize a small fraction of complete on-road automobiles however generate the best share of dangerous air pollution. In 2020, heavy-duty automobiles represented roughly 6% of the on-road fleet however generated 59% of ozone- and particle-forming NOx emissions and 55% of the particle air pollution (together with brake and tire particles).
To obtain the well being advantages outlined on this report, the American Lung Association is asking on choice makers on the federal and state ranges to set stronger clear truck requirements and to spend money on zero-emission transportation infrastructure and zero-emission electrical energy. Learn extra concerning the “Delivering Clean Air” report and signal the petition at Lung.org/EV.
About the American Lung Association
The American Lung Association is the main group working to save lives by enhancing lung well being and stopping lung illness by means of schooling, advocacy and analysis. The work of the American Lung Association is concentrated on 4 strategic imperatives: to defeat lung most cancers; to champion clear air for all; to enhance the standard of life for these with lung illness and their households; and to create a tobacco-free future. For extra details about the American Lung Association, which has a 4-star score from Charity Navigator and is a Gold-Level InformationStar Member, or to assist the work it does, name 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or go to: Lung.org.
American Lung Association • 55 W. Wacker Drive, Suite 1150 • Chicago, IL 60601
1331 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Ste. 1425 North • Washington, D.C. 20004
1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) Lung.org
CONTACT: Jill Dale | American Lung Association
P: 312-940-7001E: [email protected]
SOURCE American Lung Association
