Alejandra Barunda
👤 SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
Mercury is a heavy metal that is often found naturally in coal.
When coal is burned, that mercury is released into the atmosphere, and eventually it can find its way into the human body, where it causes neurological problems and other health issues.
It's particularly dangerous for infants.
To limit some of that risk, in the 2010s, the EPA designed the mercury and air toxic standards.
The rule was intended to limit the amount of particularly dangerous pollutants, like mercury, that came from power plants.
The Biden administration EPA tightened the rule in 2024.
But now, the Trump administration's EPA is rolling back the standard to its previous levels.
The agency says it's part of the administration's efforts to support the coal industry.
Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia in the country.
For years, scientists have investigated its causes from genetics to lifestyle to environmental exposures.
One growing line of evidence shows that air pollution can be a factor.
The new study was published in the journal PLOS Medicine.
It found that older Americans had a higher chance of getting diagnosed with Alzheimer's if they had lived in a place with dirty air within the previous five years, especially if the person had also had a stroke.
has gotten much cleaner in recent decades because of tightening regulations on pollution.
In 2025, the Trump administration announced that it would consider loosening some of the key rules in order to benefit businesses and manufacturing.
46% increase in the rate of people presenting for heart attacks during that time period.
Wildfires aren't new in the West.