Photo by b k | Flckr/CC BY-SA 2.0
By Lauren Kuby, Tempe City Council member | Arizona Mirror
Worsening air pollution is rampant across the nation, with the crisis especially acute in much of the West, including Arizona. There are myriad causes of our pollution emergency, but the largest contributor to the dirty air we breathe comes from the transportation sector. Now, more than ever, we need effective strategies to limit vehicular pollution, particularly in communities that are near roadways.
Transportation pollution is clearly impacting our changing climate, and it also worsens the effects of COVID-19, which attacks respiratory function. Death rates from COVID-19 are much higher for those with pre-existing conditions such as asthma, which can be triggered by air pollution.
