Melissa Williams, melissa.williams@sierraclub.org
MEMPHIS, TENN.— In many places across the country, the air we breathe is contaminated with dirty fossil fuel pollution that threatens the health of our families and communities.
This is a real problem that must be fixed, but Donald Trump is proactively making matters worse by assaulting bedrock clean air protections, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Clean Air Act—all so he can placate polluters who want to avoid any responsibility for the dirty smog and soot they spew into our neighborhoods.
The American Lung Association’s 2017 State of the Air report, released today, makes it clear how dirty air is a real problem across the country and how dangerous it would be to cut clean air safeguards and protections.
The report gives Shelby County a “D” grade for ozone pollution, which medical experts say is like getting a sunburn on your lungs.
Long-term exposure to ozone pollution is linked to chronic asthma and other respiratory and lung diseases, reproductive and developmental harm, and even premature death. Children are at the greatest health risk, because they are more likely to be active outdoors and their lungs are still developing. Additionally, seniors and people with heart ailments can see their chronic conditions get worse due to inhaling smog pollution, which can be deadly.
In response to the ALA’s report, Rita Harris, senior organizer
for the Sierra Club in Memphis, released the following statement:
“We have 237,852 children under the age of 18, and 113,176 elderly community members over the age of 65 in Shelby County. These two population groups bear the heaviest burden from harmful air pollution. As a proactive community, we must commit to taking extra measures wherever possible to lessen this burden.
“Air pollution is about health, and our health impacts our quality of life. While some of the air pollution in our area will be reduced as a result of the TVA Allen plant's reduction in burning coal, it’s not enough.
“We need leaders who will take a stand for a stronger EPA and for clean air safeguards, and who will move our country and state toward clean, renewable, emission-free forms of energy—for the sake of our environment, and for our families and children.”
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is the country’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 2.4 million members and supporters nationwide. In addition to creating opportunities for people of all ages, levels and locations to have meaningful outdoor experiences, the Sierra Club works to safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and litigation. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.