In Massachusetts, a state that meets EPA standards, pollution continues to be a silent killer and a large contributor for effecting children’s intelligence.

According to researchers at the Boston College, in 2019, air pollution by fine particulate matter was responsible to 2,780 deaths and almost a cumulative of 2 million IQ point loss in children, approximately 2 IQ points per child on average. Air pollution also impacted the most in area of the most economically disadvantaged and socially underserved.

They also found that air pollution attributed to deaths due to lung cancer, heart disease, chronic lung disease, and strokes. Additionally, air pollution was responsible for 15,386 cases of pediatric asthma and 308 cases of low-birthweight newborns.

95% of the air pollution is a result of fossil fuel combustion. Other sources included power plants, industrial facilities, and home heating.

While the EPA has set the standard for fine particulate pollution below 12 micrograms per cubic meter, the study how that these devastating effects can still be found in Massachusetts lowest area of 2.77 micrograms per cubic meter.

“Clearly, current EPA air pollution standards are not adequately protecting public health,” state author Philip Landrigan.

It comes to show again that politicians and people who are for limiting EPA’s ability to regulate air pollution are poor servants of the people and do not have the sustainability of the future nor people’s health in mind. Vote for leaders who will mandate greater limits to air pollution, and not remove air quality measures.

PJ Landrigan et al. A replicable strategy for mapping air pollution’s community-level health impacts and catalyzing prevention. Environmental Health. doi.org/10.1186/s12940-022-00879-3