The switch to electric vehicles is a breath of fresh air for children near highways
A new study highlights the potential for electric vehicles (EVs) to significantly reduce childhood asthma attacks and other health issues caused by exhaust exposure, particularly in low-income, urban areas.
Katie Myers reports for Grist.
In short:
- Transitioning to EVs could prevent nearly 3 million childhood asthma attacks and hundreds of infant deaths due to lower air pollution.
- 27 million children in the U.S. are currently exposed to high levels of air pollution, which begins affecting them as early as in the womb.
- Bipartisan efforts and state initiatives, especially in California, are accelerating the adoption of zero-emission vehicles, with significant advancements in truck emissions reduction.
Key quote:
"Children are smaller, they’re breathing more air pound for pound than an adult. The risk can be immediate, but it’s also long lasting."
— William Barret, study author and national director on advocacy and clean air at the American Lung Association.
Why this matters:
The transition to electric vehicles, crucial in the fight against climate change, represents a significant stride towards mitigating health disparities in urban communities and advancing environmental justice. Read more in "Breathless" is EHN's in-depth look at Pittsburgh's asthma epidemic and the fight to stop it.
