Study: Five Americans die hourly from vehicle pollution
7 reported
A new study reports that approximately five Americans die every hour due to exposure to toxic road vehicle pollution. The analysis, conducted by the non-profit International Council on Clean Transportation in partnership with the UK-based Fia Foundation, quantified emissions from producing and consuming fuel for vehicles and calculated health impacts using established methods. In 2024, the study found more than 41,800 premature deaths in the US were attributable to road pollution. The research also found that the US has more new pediatric asthma cases attributable to vehicle pollution annually than any other country, with US children accounting for one in 10 new pediatric asthma cases globally in 2024. The authors state that accelerating the transition to zero-emission vehicles could reduce these effects, estimating that reaching 100% market share for electric cars, trucks, and buses by 2040 could avert more than 100,000 premature deaths and prevent more than 42,000 children from developing asthma by 2050. The article notes that experts say the nation is currently moving in the wrong direction, citing the Trump administration’s environmental rollbacks and revocation of plans to accelerate clean vehicle uptake.
What’s reported
Roughly five Americans die every hour due to exposure to toxic road vehicle pollution, according to a new study.
In 2024, more than 41,800 premature deaths in the US were attributable to road pollution.
The US has more new pediatric asthma cases attributable to vehicle pollution annually than any other country.
In 2024, US children accounted for one in 10 new pediatric asthma cases attributable to vehicle pollution globally.
If the US reaches 100% market share for electric cars, trucks, and buses by 2040, it could avert more than 100,000 premature deaths and prevent more than 42,000 children from developing asthma by 2050.
The analysis was conducted by the International Council on Clean Transportation in partnership with the Fia Foundation.
Nearly half of Americans breathe in dangerous levels of airborne emissions, the American Lung Association found last year.
Key figures
Paul Jones III, transportation planner at the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance
Lingzhi Jin, senior researcher at the International Council on Clean Transportation
Sources: The Guardian
