"Let them breathe arsenic!" Air Toxics with Mary Peveto

Mary Peveto of Neighbors for Clean Air joins me on the podcast today. We dive into this gap between safety and legality and the many air toxics that are not regulated under the Clean Air Act. Like many Oregonians, I always thought our state had a green reputation and healthy air. I have learned as a lung doctor that is not the case. There is a large gap between what people think is happening with air quality regulation and the reality of our permitting processes that does not protect human health.

We also talk about the history of racial injustice in poor air quality, and the difference in action when levels of arsenic were known to be elevated in the historically black community of North Portland vs when cancer causing air toxics were found in whiter neighborhoods.

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We also talk about what gives her hope, and future needs for diesel mitigation.

Learn more about Neighbors for Clean Air and their important work here: http://www.whatsinourair.org/ . Consider donating to their important work!

Learn more about Cleaner Air Oregon here.

If you live in Oregon, look up your State Senator and Representative here, and tell them how important it is to breathe clean air and that you support a robust permitting standard, benchmarked to human health.