From the end of 2018 to the beginning of 2019, the U.S. government was temporarily shut down for more than a month during the new budget debate, and thousands of employees were forced to take leave. During this period of inactivity, one might think there would be less pollution, fewer commuters on the road, and fewer open offices.
However, a recent analysis shared by The Conversation reveals a troubling truth: While regulators failed, it appears that major polluters are actually deliberately ramping up their polluting activities because they know they can’t get caught.
What happened?
Researchers Ruohao Zhang, Huan Li and Neha Khanna reviewed data from 204 coal-fired power plants to determine whether they were complying with particulate pollution regulations during shutdowns when regulators were unable to operate.
Unfortunately, they found that as soon as the government shut down, the production of particulate matter from these factories increased by about 15% to 20%. Once the federal government returned to normal operations, the factories resumed normal operations and pollution decreased.
After testing several theories, the researchers determined that the explanation that best fit the data was that operators turned off filtration equipment that used electricity while on vacation. This would save factories money while allowing more particulate pollution to enter the atmosphere.
Why are particulate emissions important?
Particulate matter air pollution produced by coal-fired power plants, known as PM2.5 and PM10 pollution, refers to the micron size of individual particles, which are thinner than a human hair and can penetrate deep into the lungs when inhaled. It can lead to asthma, heart disease and premature death.
As this study points out, a significant increase in pollution is likely to contribute to the death toll.
What measures can be taken to limit air pollution?
The researchers note that only direct enforcement of environmental regulations can prevent coal plant operators from polluting beyond legal limits. They also say enforcement has been declining in recent years, as has the number of staff responsible for the regulations.
Staffing the Environmental Protection Agency with adequate regulatory staff is the only way to protect the health of ordinary Americans.
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