Limiting carbon emissions to 25 percent for a decade in just 12 states could prevent 60,000 birth defects, autism diagnoses and infant deaths each year, a study claims. Researchers at Columbia University simulated changes in air pollution between 2022 and 2032 and found that the hypothetical emissions cap would come from investments in electric vehicles and mass transportation. By reducing nitrogen oxides, ammonia and particulate matter in the air through the combination, allocating most resources to public transport could lead to 58,000 fewer cases of asthma attacks and respiratory problems. The study said state lawmakers would need to limit carbon emissions that come from regulated fuel suppliers and gasoline-powered vehicles to reflect its findings. Electric vehicles could save children between five and 17 years old from serious health problems Switching to electric vehicles would reduce asthma attacks, infant mortality and autism by nearly 60,000 people in 12 US states alone. Researchers at Columbia University Milman School of Public Health fIt focused on the effect that limiting carbon emissions would have on the health of children in 12 northeastern states, including MaineNY, Maryland, Connecticutand Pennsylvania. Traffic is a leading cause of carbon pollution in the U.S., accounting for 28 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions in the country; However, demand for electric vehicles continues to decline. National demand for electric vehicles fell from 76 percent in 2022 to 50 percent last year, even as states like California work to impose a ban on gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035. They analyzed three carbon emissions caps of 20 percent, 22 percent and 25 percent and combined each cap into three different investment strategies, including diversified, hybrid and Max GHG. The diversified strategy prioritized improvements in public transport and active mobility and the Max GHG scenario focused on switching to cleaner fuels and using more electric vehicles. Meanwhile, the hybrid strategy was a combination of diversified and Maximum GHG scenarios. The researchers found that the combination of the highest 25 percent CO2 limit and the diversified scenario produced the greatest health benefits for children and babies for more than half of the possible health outcomes. In this scenario, the team estimated that they prevented 95 percent of asthma attacks that would have required medical attention, 99 percent prevented upper and lower respiratory problems, and 95 percent prevented premature births. The researchers said in the study that it would be up to state lawmakers to pass a Transportation and Climate Initiative that would put a cap on CO2 emissions from gasoline-powered vehicles. The initiative would also require regulated fuel suppliers to purchase CO2 “rights” at auction. Proceeds from the auction would be invested in clean transportation programs and projects, including switching to electric vehicles and focusing on public transportation. “Evaluations of health benefits often overlook children’s health outcomes,” said study co-author Frederica Perera, a professor of environmental health sciences at the Columbia Mailman Center for Children’s Environmental Health. “However, we know that early exposure to air pollutants has multiple detrimental effects on children’s health and well-being, and that these are preventable.” The number of asthma attacks would be reduced by more than 130,000 per state in the US if the country used all-electric vehicles by 2050 A separate report from the American Lung Association found that switching to all-electric vehicles nationwide by 2050 would prevent an estimated 2.8 million pediatric asthma attacks and more than 500 childhood deaths. Other studies have suggested that inhaling pollution during pregnancy may increase the risk of childhood autism, and the risk appears to be highest in boys. “Prenatal exposure to air pollution, especially during critical periods of brain development, has been identified as a potential risk factor for autism,” Beyond therapy reported. Air pollutants were found to trigger inflammation and oxidative stress in the body during pregnancy, which could disrupt the normal development of the baby’s brain. Exposure could also interfere with the growth and development of the fetal nervous system, which could lead to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism. “Exposure to pollutants such as particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been linked to an increased likelihood of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis in children,” Above and Beyond stated. The Columbia University study said that replacing gasoline-powered vehicles with electric vehicles and public transportation reduces more than 58,000 cases of infant mortality, premature births, low birth weight, autism spectrum disorders, new cases of asthma, worsening of asthma symptoms and other respiratory diseases. It would be avoided. The study suggested that lawmakers should impose limits on carbon emissions, and researchers say it can not only save children, but also have a positive effect on climate change. “Ambitious carbon limits and policies that focus on vulnerable groups, including children, can improve health outcomes and help mitigate the impacts of climate change,” said lead author Alique Berberian, a graduate student researcher. from the University of California, Los Angeles. “Children’s bodies are developing physically, which can make them more vulnerable to climate-related hazards, such as heat and poor air quality,” according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He added: “They also breathe at a faster rate, which increases their exposure to dangerous air pollutants.” According to the 2023 ‘State of the Air’ report, more than 27 million U.S. children live in counties that have unhealthy levels of at least one air pollutant. Meanwhile, a new report also details that the growing number of climate-driven extreme weather events disproportionately affects children’s health. Prolonged exposure to air pollution caused by wildfire smoke or extreme heat can harm adolescents’ lung function, cause heat-related stress, and affect fetal development. Exposure to particulate pollutants during pregnancy can cause premature birth, low birth weight, spontaneous abortions and stillbirth. “Climate policies can have important effects not only on the climate, but also on health and environmental justice,” said lead author Jonathan Buonocore, an assistant professor of Environmental Health at the Boston University School of Public Health. “Our research shows the importance of including these other policy benefits when evaluating climate policies,” he added.
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