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Relationship between Clean Air and Asthma Examined
new report, analyzing detailed asthma incidence and cost data,
concludes that the already staggering human and
nancial toll of asthma in the United States likely will increase
if Congress acts to stop updates to the Clean Air Ac
AA).
u, 2011-04-07 16:37
ndy Smith
ndy Smith
ore than 24 million Americans including 7 million children
suffer from asthma, with direct and indirect cost
eating the nations worsening asthma epidemic already exceeding
$53 billion, according to the report, which was
leased by Health Care Without Harm (HCWH), the Alliance of
Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE) and th
ational Association of School Nurses (NASN).
he U.S. House is scheduled to vote on Energy and Commerce
Chairman Fred Uptons bill to block EPA from redu
rbon pollution and the Senate may vote on one or more amendments
that would block or delay EPAs efforts. A
me time, Congress is negotiating with the White House to
continue funding the federal government with a newending measure,
onto which some members of Congress hope to attach EPA-related
riders that also would pre
e agency from updating the CAA.
ongress is literally talking here about taking the breath away
from millions of American children and adults, sa
enda Afzal, MS, RN, U.S. climate policy coordinator, Health Care
Without Harm. Because they have a disease t
very susceptible to pollution, Americans with asthma provide
members of Congress with 24 million compelling
asons for the EPA to be allowed to proceed with needed updates
to federal Clean Air Act standards. By siding wi
olluters and against their constituents with asthma, Congress is
ignoring the public health and financial implicatio
pollution-related illness.
r pollution from cars, factories and power plants is among the
major causes of asthma episodes. Air pollutants th
n contribute to asthma include ground-level ozone smog, sulfur
dioxide, particle pollution, and nitrogen oxides.
arbon dioxide pollution also can worsen asthma in several ways,
such as by driving climate change (rising
mperatures increase ozone smog concentrations) and by increasing
production of airborne allergens like ragwee
ollen (which is another trigger for asthma episodes).
ccording to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services'
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, al
percent of the costs of asthma are paid out-of-pocket by the
patient. T hat is equivalent to just under $8 billion
ar. Priv ate insurance covers more than 38 percent of the costs,
equivalent to more than $20 billion a year. Tha
aves almost half of the cost of the asthma epidemic to be paid
by taxpayer-funded federal programs such as Med
d Medicaid.
ccording to a recent EPA analysis, the CAA amendments of 1990
currently prevent 1.7 million cases of asthma
acerbation and by 2020 will prevent 2.4 million cases.
he HCWH/ANHE/NASN report states: Legislation that would greatly
reduce the authority of EPA to reduce th
r pollutants under the Clean Air Act would prevent improvements
in air quality stopping reductions in emissio
rbon dioxide, f ine particles, soot, and other pollutants and
would make it harder for children and adults with
spiratory problems such as asthma to breathe.
he report is based on asthma prevalence and cost data from the
American Lung Association and the Centers for
sease Control and Prevention and relevant peer-reviewed
literature. Compiled by the consulting firm Davidardiner &
Associates, the new report, titled The Economic Affliction of
Asthma and Risks of Blocking Air Pollu
http://ehstoday.com/author/sandy-smith
