By Kathleen Sebelius
December 21, 2011
When the Environmental Protection Agency announced achievable new standards today for mercury and other toxic pollutants from power plants, it took a critical step forward in promoting a safe and healthy environment where all families can raise their children free from dangerous chemical exposure.
At the Department of Health and Human Services, we know that people’s health is not just determined by what happens in the doctor’s office. It depends on where we live and work, what we eat and the air we breathe.
There shouldn't be a single neighborhood where parents have to worry about letting their kids play outside for fear they might get sick. Yet today, one in every 12 Americans — and one in 10 children--suffers from asthma, which is worsened by air pollution. In total, our children's exposure to air pollution and toxic chemicals costs America more than $75 billion every year. When our nation is working to pay the bills, we shouldn't be spending $75 billion a year to pay for illnesses we could have prevented.
Mercury and other toxic air pollution can pose serious health risks especially to children as they grow. And exposure to toxic pollutants when children are in the womb can harm their development and cause neurological damage. This is unfair to any child, and should be unacceptable to any nation.
Today’s announcement is important because good health is the foundation of a prosperous country. Healthy adults are more productive workers. Healthy children are better students. Healthy families can make greater contributions to their communities.
These standards represent a public health landmark. They will reduce toxic emissions nationwide and prevent as many as 11,000 premature deaths, 4,700 heart attacks, and 130,000 asthma attacks each year, all while providing industry important flexibilities that ensure these public and economic benefits far outweigh any costs.
By building safe, healthy communities we're making an investment in the future of our nation so it can continue to grow, and prosper, for decades to come.