New Report: Cleaner Manufacturing in Colorado Could Save Nearly 200 Lives and Prevent 146,000 Asthma Attacks

Industrial facilities that manufacture everyday products that we rely on like food, paper and clothing are a significant —but often overlooked—source of harmful air pollution. A new report from the American Lung Association, “Clean Heat, Clean Air: Health Benefits of Modern Industrial Technologies,” finds that modernizing industrial manufacturing processes with clean heating technologies that are already available and cost-effective could save hundreds of lives and dramatically reduce asthma attacks in Colorado.

The report outlines the public health impact of pollution from facilities that rely on burning fossil fuels, wood or other fuels to generate heat for processes such as food and beverage processing, pulp and paper production, and textile manufacturing. The Lung Association’s analysis reveals that transitioning this equipment to modern, clean technologies by 2050 could result in up to the following health benefits for Coloradoans alone:

• $2.9 billion in public health benefits due to pollution reductions 
• 194 premature deaths avoided
• 146,000 asthma attacks avoided
• 960 new asthma cases avoided
• 8,720 lost work days avoided

“Colorado has significant air pollution challenges to overcome, and modern industrial technologies will play an increasingly important role. According to the ‘State of the Air’ report, three Colorado metro areas are among the Top 25 Most Polluted Cities for ozone pollution, with the Denver area ranking 6th; Fort Collins, 13th; and Colorado Springs, 23rd. Ongoing efforts to cut pollution from industrial facilities will be a crucial step in our efforts to clean the air in Colorado,” said Will Barrett, senior director, nationwide advocacy, clean air for the American Lung Association. 

Industrial facilities currently account for nearly a quarter of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, making them the third-largest source of climate pollution behind transportation and electricity. Combustion-based industrial heat processes also release nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and other pollutants that harm lung health, especially in communities located near more than 33,000 of these units operating around the U.S. 

Nationally, the report finds that transitioning this equipment to modern, clean technologies by 2050 could result in up to:

• $1.1 trillion in public health benefits due to pollution reductions 
• 77,200 premature deaths avoided
• 33.2 million asthma attacks avoided
• 204,000 new asthma cases avoided
• 3.4 million lost work days avoided
• Over $350 billion in global climate benefits

Burning fossil fuels, biomass or other fuels to power industrial heat processes releases harmful pollutants into the air we all breathe, contributing to asthma, heart attacks, strokes and other health emergencies. The Lung Association has long championed the transition away from outdated combustion technologies in transportation, power generation and homes. Supporting the transition to modern industrial clean heat is vital to advancing our organization’s mission to protect lung health and ensure everyone has access to clean air.

To read the full “Clean Heat, Clean Air: Health Benefits of Modern Industrial Technologies” report and learn more about the public health benefits of industrial clean heat technologies, visit Lung.org/clean-heat.