Industrial manufacturing facilities in California, such as those producing food, paper, and clothing, are a significant source of air pollution. A new report from the American Lung Association titled “Clean Heat, Clean Air: Health Benefits of Modern Industrial Technologies” examines how updating these facilities with clean heating technologies could improve public health outcomes.
The report details the effects of pollution from facilities that use fossil fuels, wood, or other fuels to generate heat for industrial processes. It suggests that switching to modern, cleaner technologies by 2050 could save thousands of lives and prevent millions of asthma attacks in California and across the United States.
“Despite progress, California has incredible air pollution challenges to overcome. According to the ‘State of the Air’ report, nine out of ten people in California live in an area that received a failing grade for air quality. In addition, nine California cities appear among the Top 25 Most Polluted Cities lists. Building off of California's leadership in addressing pollution from industrial facilities is a crucial step in our efforts to clean the air in our state,” said Will Barrett, senior director, nationwide advocacy, clean air for the American Lung Association.
According to the American Lung Association’s analysis, industrial facilities contribute nearly one-quarter of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. This makes them the third-largest source of climate pollution after transportation and electricity generation. The combustion-based processes also emit nitrogen oxides and particulate matter that can harm lung health—especially for communities living near more than 33,000 such units nationwide.
Nationally, transitioning this equipment to modern technologies by 2050 could lead to substantial health benefits. The report notes that burning fossil fuels or biomass for industrial heat releases pollutants linked to asthma, heart attacks, strokes, and other emergencies.
The American Lung Association has advocated for moving away from outdated combustion technologies not only in industry but also in transportation and homes. The organization views support for modern industrial clean heat as essential to its mission of protecting lung health and ensuring access to clean air.
For more information or to read the full report “Clean Heat, Clean Air: Health Benefits of Modern Industrial Technologies,” visit https://www.lung.org/clean-heat.
