Health advocates are raising concerns over a Trump administration proposal to weaken federal emissions standards for heavy-duty trucks, warning the changes could worsen air quality across New York and increase health risks linked to air pollution.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed easing emissions requirements for diesel-powered vehicles, including semi-trucks, buses and garbage trucks. The administration says the rollback would reduce regulatory costs, estimating the trucking industry could save as much as $12 billion.
But public health experts argue those savings would come at the expense of cleaner air.
"The mixture of emissions trucks release has been linked to poor birth outcomes, reduced lung and cognitive development, and worsening of chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases," said Dr. Payel Gupta, a spokesperson for the American Lung Association.
Gupta says the proposal comes as much of New York continues to struggle with unhealthy air. According to the American Lung Association's latest State of the Air report, 21 counties in the state received failing grades for at least one measure of air pollution. She says weakening federal standards could make those conditions worse.
Current EPA regulations are designed to sharply reduce nitrogen oxide, or NOx, emissions from heavy-duty diesel vehicles. Gupta says those standards are projected to cut NOx emissions by 14 percent by 2030, 44 percent by 2040 and 48 percent by 2045.
She argues maintaining those standards would improve public health while reducing pollution over time.
Research from the International Council on Clean Transportation also points to the health impacts of vehicle emissions.
The organization estimates pollution from gasoline-powered vehicles contributes to more than 3,200 premature deaths and roughly 2,700 new childhood asthma cases annually in New York. Its analysis projects that a transition toward electric vehicles could prevent more than 8,000 premature deaths statewide by 2050.
Supporters of the proposed rollback argue easing emissions requirements would lower costs for manufacturers and trucking companies. Health advocates, however, contend the long-term public health costs could outweigh the financial savings.
