Everyone wants clean air to breathe. Yet, sometimes we hear from critics of pollution controls that the damage done to the economy by strict clean air standards are not worth the expense and lost jobs and productivity. However, there is considerable evidence that such criticism is unfounded, as studies suggest that the short term expenses of pollution control technology is eventually offset by long term benefits.
Clean Air and Health
Access to clean air is essential to good health, but it also helps the economy. One of the ways in which cleaner air helps economic growth is by lowering the medical expenses that businesses are forced to pay in either a direct or indirect manner. Pollution is a common cause of health problems, which companies are forced to pay for through their employee insurance plans. Clean air also helps to prevent respiratory illnesses, disabilities and premature deaths, all of which can be financially devastating to those involved. Heart attacks and asthma attacks decrease with cleaner air, resulting in thousands of fewer hospital admissions. Fewer workdays lost to illness helps business productivity as well.
Good Investment
A 2011 study by the Environmental Protection Agency revealed that the total benefits of clean air programs resulted in more money being saved than was spent on the programs themselves. Clean air also helps to create jobs in industries that help to control pollution. For example, Combustion Controls Solutions & Environmental Services, Inc. is just one of many industries that have grown up around the demand for pioneering pollution controls and a cleaner environment. You can learn more at OxidizerService.com about some of the technology involved.
Not in Conflict
In the over 40 years since the Clean Air Act was passed, the experience in the marketplace has been that the extra expense of using clean air technology is more than offset by the benefits. Americans do not have to choose between their health and their economic well-being. It is estimated that environmental technology has created nearly two million jobs for workers in the $18 billion per year production of air pollution control equipment. In fact, the total market for environmentally related technologies is almost $800 billion dollars, which is similar in size to the pharmaceutical and aerospace industries. Clean air and economic prosperity are not two values in conflict. On the contrary, they are two things that are very compatible with one another.
