If you’ve ever sat in the nonsmoking section of a restaurant, it’s clear that there are no real barriers to keep the smoke from wafting into your dining space. The same holds true, only on a much larger scale, when it comes to air pollution produced by coal-fired power plants in one state that drifts into many others. Some call this second- hand smog, and much like second-hand smoke, it can cause serious health problems.
It makes sense that Eastern state governors, including our own Gov. Jack Markell, have recently banded together to petition the Environmental Protection Agency - the EPA - for stronger health protections from air pollution blowing into our region from the Midwest. Tens of thousands of asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes and even deaths are caused every year by air pollution that does not respect state borders.
Delaware is worth protecting. We applaud Governor Markell for supporting the need to clean up second-hand smog that will help protect children, older adults, people with lung disease, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, from toxic air pollution and placing pressure on those in the Midwest to do the same.
Deb Brown
president and CEO
American Lung Association of the Mid Atlantic
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