An opinion piece in the Washington Times by Kathleen Hartnett White in February 2013 highlights a message we have heard in Kentucky from John Lyons, Director of Kentucky’s Division for Air Quality. The message is a reminder that we have taken massive steps forward in cleaning up our air (and our soils and water) over the past several decades. Regardless of any gloom and doom we may hear as justification for new regulations and emission limits, we can’t lose sight of the vast improvements we have seen to date.
Just a couple of numbers from Ms. Hartnett’s article tell the tale. “In the 1970’s, 88 percent of children between ages 1 and 5 had lead in their blood above the CDC’s threshold of risk. In 2006, it was down to only 1.2 percent.” Again, “in 1997, EPA classified 113 metropolitan areas as ozone nonattainment areas. That number has now fallen below 30.”
So while we examine new regulations designed to further reduce environmental pollutants, let’s keep a sense of proportion and an understanding of how far we have come.