"Ozone and particulate matter air pollutants cause over 100,000 premature deaths per year and affect the health of millions of Americans. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said last month that his agency would stop considering those costs when drafting new regulations."
"Senate Democrats have launched an investigation into the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s decision in January to disregard human health impacts when calculating the costs and benefits of regulating the harmful air pollutants ozone and PM2.5.
Led by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., the Democrats last week sent a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin requesting documents and other information that underpinned the agency’s decision to stop considering the costs of premature deaths, hospitalizations, cases of asthma or heart disease and other such factors when weighing the benefits of stricter air pollution regulations.
“That EPA may no longer monetize health benefits when setting new clean air standards does not mean that those health benefits don’t exist,” the letter reads. “It just means that you will ignore them and reject safer standards, in favor of protecting corporate interests.”
The EPA did not answer specific questions posed by Inside Climate News about how it will track the health effects of increased emissions, as well as the sources and documents it will consider when revisiting the modeling. Instead, an agency spokesperson issued a statement: “We have received the letter and will respond through the proper channels.”"
Lisa Sorg reports for Inside Climate News February 17, 2026.
