Category: Air Polution
Federal Court Strikes Down Trump Coal Power Plant Rule
‘Major Win for the Planet’ “This decision frees up the new Biden administration to begin working immediately on the science-based greenhouse pollution rules we desperately need to make up for lost time.” by Andrea Germanos, staff…
Wildfire smoke changes dramatically as it ages, and that matters for downwind air quality – here’s what we learned flying through smoke plumes
Wildfire smoke is far more complex and dynamic than meets the eye. It contains thousands of different compounds, most of which are molecules containing various amounts of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen atoms. by Brett B….
Critics say deregulatory rush shows even if defeated the Trump White House willing to ‘Scorch the earth before they go’
From bomb trains to biometrics to workers’ rights, the administration is pushing for last-minute rollbacks that could prove hard for its successor to overturn. by Brett Wilkins, staff writer Sunday, October 18 With President Donald Trump’s…
Harvard study finds elevated airborne radiation levels downwind of US fracking sites
“If you asked me to go and live downwind [of fracking sites], I would not go,” said the lead author of the new study. by Jake Johnson, staff writer Wednesday, October 14 A study released Tuesday…
Methane ruling seen as ominous sign with Barrett poised to join Supreme Court
The judge delivered a “puzzling and unsupported conclusion that the Bureau of Land Management can’t limit methane waste because that would reduce greenhouse gas pollution.” by Andrea Germanos, staff writer Friday, October 9 A federal court’s…
Wildfire smoke is laced with toxic chemicals – here’s how they got there
Wildfire smoke turned the San Francisco sky orange in the middle of the day in early September. Ray Chavez/Medianews Group/The Mercury News via Getty Images by Joshua S. Fu, University of Tennessee When you breathe in…
Coalition of state and local governments sues EPA To block Trump’s gutting of methane regulation
“We need leaders who step up and propose solutions. Instead, we get President Trump’s version of the EPA.” by Lisa Newcomb, staff writer A coalition of 19 states and six municipalities Monday sued the Environmental Protection…
Investors who manage $47 trillion pressure top polluters to pursue transition to net-zero emissions
“Companies across all sectors need to take more ambitious action to ensure otherwise devastating impacts of climate change are avoided while they still can be.” by Jessica Corbett, staff writer Monday, September 14 As historic, climate…
New research shows disproportionate rate of coronavirus deaths in polluted areas
The type of pollution emitted by many chemical plants in Louisiana’s industrial corridor is correlated with increased coronavirus deaths, according to new peer-reviewed research from SUNY and ProPublica. by Lylla Younes, ProPublica, and Sara Sneath The…
What’s in that wildfire smoke, and why is it so bad for your lungs?
The health impact of wildfire exposure depends in part on on the fire itself and how much smoke a person breathes in, how often and for how long. by Luke Montrose, Boise State University If I…
Judge blocks Trump attempt to gut methane restrictions
“The judge basically rejected every attempt by the Trump administration to gut these common-sense waste prevention measures on behalf of their oil and gas industry cronies.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Thursday, July 16 Green groups…
EPA decides to reject the latest science, endanger public health and ignore the law by keeping an outdated fine particle air pollution standard
Diesel emissions are a major source of fine particle pollution by H. Christopher Frey, North Carolina State University May 1, 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic and economic shutdown have temporarily produced clearer skies across the U.S. Meanwhile,…
Fears of toxic pollution are growing in California’s oil hub.
Anger over air quality By Jeremy P. Jacobs / E&E News Third in the “Toxic Zones” series, which explores life in the communities around America’s oil refineries. This series is a collaboration between E&E News and…
EPA moves to allow more PM 2.5 particulate emissions
EPA particulate matter decision puts science, health aside to protect polluters Meteor Staff from press releases April 14, 2020 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that it would not strengthen standards for particulate matter pollution…
