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Experts warn: EPA rollbacks could endanger public health
The EPA, under Administrator Lee Zeldin, has rolled back 31 environmental regulations, sparking public health concerns. Experts warn that loosening air pollution standards could increase respiratory diseases, heart conditions, and infant mortality. The reconsideration of Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) is particularly troubling, as these regulations have significantly reduced mercury emissions, protecting children from cognitive and motor impairments.
Communities near power plants, factories, and highways—often lower-income and disproportionately composed of people of color—are expected to suffer the most. Weakened regulations could undo decades of progress in environmental health, exacerbating existing disparities.
Critics argue these rollbacks endanger lives, with projections indicating thousands of preventable deaths. Beyond health impacts, deregulation threatens sustainability efforts and climate initiatives. Environmental advocates and attorneys general are challenging these changes, emphasizing the need to maintain protections that safeguard public health and vulnerable communities.
24-03-2025