U.S. Air Quality Was Improving. Now It’s Getting Worse

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-22/u-s-air-quality-was-improving-now-it-s-getting-worse

By Eric Roston
October 22, 2019, 4:00 AM EDT

After years of decline, a spike in air pollution may have taken the lives of almost 10,000 additional Americans over two years.

Following a 24% drop between 2009 and 2016, particulate matter air pollution in the U.S. increased 5.5% in 2017 and 2018, according to a new analysis of Environmental Protection Agency data by two Carnegie Mellon economists.

The working paper published this week by the National Bureau of Economic Research may signal a deadly change in U.S. environmental health.

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