Leading Health Organizations Come Together to Support EPA Rule to Clean Up Truck Pollution

Today, the American Lung Association joined 13 national health, medical and nursing organizations in submitting comments to urge the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to quickly finalize stringent standards to limit greenhouse gas emissions from heavy-duty vehicles beginning in model year 2027.

The Lung Association also delivered comments from more than 280 health professionals and more than 1000 members of the public in support of the proposed rule to clean up heavy-duty truck pollution and calling for EPA to finalize at least the most stringent pathway included in the proposal. 

“Transportation is the largest source of pollution driving climate change. Strong standards that drive to a zero-emission future for trucks, buses and other heavy-duty vehicles are a critical part of the solution,” said Harold Wimmer, National President and CEO of the American Lung Association.

“Cleaning up heavy-duty vehicles will also have immediate benefits for health. Trucks represent a small fraction of total on-road vehicles but generate the greatest share of harmful air pollutants. Exposure to traffic-related pollution is a serious health hazard to those living in communities with heavy truck traffic. The mixture of emissions has been linked to poor birth outcomes, reduced lung and cognitive development, development and worsening of chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and increased risk of dementia, cancer and premature death. Cleaning up pollution from dirty diesel trucks is a huge opportunity to improve public health and promote environmental justice.” 

“According to the American Lung Association’s recent ‘Delivering Clean Air’ report, in communities with major trucking routes, the transition to zero-emission trucks and electricity would save 66,800 lives by 2050,” Wimmer added. “We thank the EPA for their work on this proposal and urge the agency to finalize the strongest rule. These standards must dramatically reduce emissions from trucks to drive a nationwide transition to zero-emission vehicles. This transition is critical for improving public health, advancing health equity and addressing climate change.”

Comments submitted to EPA include:

• National Health Organizational Comments 
• Public Petition (including health professionals and the general public)