Cinco americanos morrem por emissões tóxicas de veículos por hora, aponta estudo

Estudo aponta que aproximadamente cinco americanos morrem por hora devido à poluição causada por veículos nas estradas; em 2024, foram mais de 41.800 óbitos prematuros atribuídos a essa poluição.
A pesquisa, da International Council on Clean Transportation, combina medições de sensores e métodos para estimar impactos à saúde.
O estudo aponta que os Estados Unidos têm mais novos casos de asma pediátrica atribuídos à poluição veicular do que qualquer outro país.
Os autores dizem que acelerar a transição para veículos de emissão zero poderia reduzir esses impactos; se 100% do mercado for elétrico até 2040, poderia evitar mais de 100.000 óbitos prematuros e mais de 42.000 novos casos de asma até 2050.
Atualmente, especialistas dizem que o país caminha na direção oposta, com desregulamentações ambientais e reversões de planos para veículos limpos na gestão atual.

Roughly five Americans die every hour due to exposure to toxic road vehicle pollution, according to a new study. The analysis quantified impacts of auto fuel production and use across the United States in 2024.

The study is led by the International Council on Clean Transportation, a non-profit. It partnered with the UK-based FIA Foundation and used sensor data to estimate health effects. Researchers applied established methods to translate emissions into mortality and illness.

Lingzhi Jin, senior researcher at ICCT, emphasized that vehicle pollution affects mortality and respiratory health. Paul Jones III, from the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance, highlighted daily health impacts on communities.

In 2024, the report estimates 41,800 premature US deaths linked to road pollution. The authors say reducing fossil-fueled transit could meaningfully cut deaths and illnesses. The analysis focuses on emissions from both production and consumption of fuel.

The research also notes that US children accounted for a large share of new pediatric asthma cases attributed to vehicle pollution in 2024, the highest globally. The study asserts a link between air quality and pediatric health outcomes.

Impactos de saúde e projeções

Authors suggest that reaching 100% market share for electric cars, trucks and buses by 2040 could avert more than 100,000 premature deaths and prevent over 42,000 children from developing asthma by 2050. The figures contrast with current adoption trends.

The report points to a broader trend: Americans express growing concern about environmental toxins, and polls indicate support for stricter federal regulations on pollution. Public health authorities are urged to act on vehicle emissions.

Contexto político e ação regulatória

The document notes policy shifts under the Trump administration, including environmental rollbacks and delays to clean-vehicle uptake. Analysts warn that such moves could undermine health gains from accelerated electrification. No final conclusions are drawn.