Cleaner Air, Healthier Communities: How MATS Standards Are Protecting Pennsylvania’s Future

At Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania (PSR PA), we are committed to championing the health of all communities through advocacy rooted in social and environmental justice. We envision safe, resilient communities where people can live healthy lives, free from the threats of pollution and environmental harm. One of the most powerful examples of policy driving that vision is the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS)—a critical environmental safeguard that has delivered profound health and climate benefits across the country and especially in Pennsylvania.

This year, the EPA finalized the most significant update to MATS in 12 years, reinforcing the standards that have saved thousands of lives and reduced pollution dramatically. But now, these protections face the threat of rollback—and that puts lives, particularly those in vulnerable communities, at risk.

What Are the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards?

MATS, established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), set federal limits on mercury, acid gases, and other hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) emitted from power plants. These pollutants—especially mercury—are highly toxic and pose significant risks to human health and the environment.

The power sector is the largest source of airborne mercury pollution and the second-largest source of climate pollution in the United States. Burning coal and oil in power plants produces a toxic mix of pollutants including:

• Mercury

• Hydrogen chloride and hydrogen fluoride (acid gases)

• Formaldehyde, dioxins, furans

• Arsenic and other heavy metals

• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)

These substances are directly linked to premature death and a range of serious health impacts, including:

•  Damage to the lungs, skin, eyes, breathing passages, kidneys, and nervous system

•  Increased rates of cardiovascular disease and certain cancers

• In the case of mercury, irreversible damage to neurological development, memory, language skills, and cognitive function

Vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, infants, older adults, and individuals with pre-existing conditions like heart or lung disease and diabetes face the greatest danger. Mercury exposure, even at low levels, can cause permanent brain damage and developmental delays in fetuses and children, leading to lifelong health consequences.

Pennsylvania’s Story: Progress We Must Defend

In Pennsylvania, MATS has delivered measurable and meaningful results. As of 2016:

• Up to 530 premature deaths were prevented

• Approximately $4.4 billion in health benefits were generated

• Mercury emissions from power plants dropped by 81.7% between 2011 and 2017

These improvements mean cleaner air, safer waterways, and healthier families. The reduction in mercury has also helped curb contamination in fish - a common source of mercury exposure - leading to better outcomes for public health, especially in communities dependent on fishing.

The Updated Rule and Its National Impact

According to the EPA, the final MATS rule will result in the following emission reductions by 2028:

• 1,000 pounds of mercury

• 770 tons of fine particulate matter (PM2.5)

• 280 tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx)

• 65,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2)

• At least 7 tons of non-mercury hazardous metals

These reductions are expected to bring $14 million in annual climate benefits - a clear sign that public health protections and economic value can go hand-in-hand.

Nationally, MATS has been projected to prevent up to 11,000 premature deaths each year, with monetized benefits reaching $90 billion annually. These are not just statistics - they reflect real people, real families, and real lives saved.

Public Support Is Clear—EPA Must Uphold Its Mission

More than 90,000 public comments were submitted in favor of strengthening MATS during the 2024 comment period. The public overwhelmingly supports strong, science-backed protections that prioritize health over polluter profits.

Rolling back these rules would not only contradict public interest, but also the EPA’s fundamental mission to protect human health and the environment. To abandon or weaken these lifesaving protections would reverse over a decade of progress and needlessly expose millions to toxic air.

Our Call to Action: Keep MATS Strong

Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania, along with numerous health organizations nationwide, strongly urges the EPA to retain the current Mercury and Air Toxics Standards as finalized in April 2024. These standards are not only working—they are essential.

This is not the time to backtrack. The science is clear. The need is urgent. And the health of our communities must come before political or industrial pressure.

Let’s continue the progress. Let’s protect what works. Let’s ensure cleaner air and healthier communities for generations to come.