Letters

Having grown up on the East End of Long Island, I know that making sure our environment is taken care of, and conservation efforts are seen to, affects our daily way of life.

Over 18.8 million people live with unhealthy levels of particle pollution, according to the American Lung Association’s “State of the Air” report. Recently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency strengthened the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particulate matter pollution.

Air pollution, specifically particle pollution, harms our health and can even be deadly. Thankfully, these stronger standards will mean fewer asthma attacks, heart attacks and strokes.

These new rules will mean that polluting industries will have to use modern pollution controls. Because of this, many of these big industries are pushing back with false and misleading claims, “cherry-picking” data about these lifesaving standards.

The bottom line is that stronger particle pollution standards will save lives, especially when considering the health of our developing children. The manufacturing industry and general economy will not be “put on halt” through these standards. That is simply untrue.

Though this is a victory, there is much more work to be done. Though new lung cancer incidence is improving in the state, it is still much higher than the national average.

Please join me as I call on the Biden administration to continue strengthening air quality standards, including limiting toxic emissions from burning coal, and setting limits on power plant carbon pollution.

Our local communities are on the line.

Max Micallef

New York State Advocacy Manager, Clean Air Initiatives

American Lung Association

Micallef is a former resident of Sag Harbor — Ed.