Lung Association: EPA’s Announcement to Delay Clean Vehicles Standards Will Harm Air Quality and Health of Families

Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that they will delay implementation of a 2024 rule to place stricter limits on tailpipe emissions from new cars. This latest effort follows administration actions to eliminate greenhouse gas standards for vehicles, as well as to propose significantly weakened vehicle fuel economy standards. In response to this announcement, the American Lung Association’s President and CEO Harold Wimmer issued the following statement:

“EPA’s action to delay the cleaner cars standards will negatively impact the health of children, older adults and people living with lung disease. Stronger limits on smog-forming pollution from cars, pickups and SUVs improve the air we breathe and the health of families across America. 

“This action also delays measures to reduce particulate pollution from new gasoline vehicles, measures already being implemented on vehicles sold other countries. Particle pollution has been proven to cause asthma attacks in children, heart attacks and strokes in older adults, increased emergency room visits, worsened COPD and a higher likelihood of developing lung cancer. Particle pollution kills.

“Delaying these critical health protective standards is unacceptable, given nearly half of children living in the United States are growing up with unhealthy air. The American Lung Association calls on EPA to immediately stop efforts to delay or roll back lifesaving clean air protections.”