Denying facts is not going to help, Mr President. The air will remain just as toxic even if you deny — God bless America('s air)

As you keep denying data and science, President Trump, air pollution is choking your electorate.

Dear President Trump,

Greetings from the most polluted capital of the world. 

This is regarding the statement you made in a conversation with Prime Minister Varadkar of Ireland in Shannon in June this year. You had said, "We have the cleanest air in the world, in the United States, and it’s gotten better since I’m President."

Sorry to break your little bubble, President Trump, but nothing could be further from the truth. In your country, the air quality is worse in the past two years than it has been in the past — just a few years prior. The past, in fact, saw your country vastly improving the air quality from the earlier deteriorations. And by past, we mean before you took oath as the President in 2017.

Air pollution kills, sir. Ask us Indians — specifically Delhiites — and we can tell you in volumes about how it feels to be breathing the toxic fumes that we call our life-breath.

But then, your own country is not faring better.

According to new Environmental Protection Agency data that was analysed by The Associated Press, over the last two years the nation had more polluted air days than the three years preceding it. Data says that 1 of every 25 deaths occurs prematurely in your country because of exposure to outdoor air pollution — about 1,00,000 Americans each year die prematurely because of polluted air. More research has established that chronic lower respiratory diseases (CLRD) kill more Americans than all transportation accidents and gun shootings combined. Surely someone of your calibre does not need to be explained that CLRD is primarily caused by exposure to air pollutants and smoking. In fact, data goes on to establish that CLRD has killed more people than diabetes or breast and prostate cancer put together. Or more than Parkinson’s disease, leukaemia and HIV/AIDS put together for that matter.

And of all the above-listed causes of mortality, air pollution is the most preventable, sir.

After decades of getting ever cleaner, America’s air quality seems to be stagnating. (Photo: AP)

AQ (air quality) data released last month by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that there were 15% more days with unhealthy air in America — both in 2018 and 2017 — than there were on average from 2013 through 2016. On average, in 2017 and 2018 there were nearly 140 times when a city’s air pollution reached the worst two categories — “very unhealthy” and “hazardous” — with the air quality index (AQI) greater than 200. That is more than 2.5 times the average that your country recoded from 2013 to 2016 (55 on AQI scale).

Today's #AQI is code Orange, with particle pollution levels (PM2.5) in Susquehanna Valley, PA; Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion. https://t.co/0HRTluW6lY

— airnow (@AIRNow) December 27, 2018

2013 to 2016 is the four-year-period when America had its fewest number days with unhealthy air since at least 1980 — to put the data in perspective.

Your predecessor, former President Obama — whom you have criticised to no end — in fact, set records for the fewest air polluted days in 2016. However, your administration, Mr President, is all set to replace the Clean Power Plan — an Obama-era rule designed to limit emissions from electric power plants — even as we write this.

Combination of December 13 (L) and December 17 (R), 2018 photos from Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City as air settles in the bowl-shaped mountain basins, trapping emissions that have no way of escaping. This created a brown, murky haze engulfing the metro area. (Photo: AP)

Had things gone in accordance with Mr Obama’s Plan, it would have gradually phased out coal-burning power plants that emit both — air pollutants and heat-trapping gases — responsible for climate change. Yes, sir. The very same climate change that you keep saying is a hoax. After all, even your eldest daughter Ivanka, your former secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, acclaimed international scientists, and even Prince Charles of Wales could not convince you to believe that climate change is real, and not some “Chinese hoax” as you repeatedly have claimed.

The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2012

Patrick Moore, co-founder of Greenpeace: “The whole climate crisis is not only Fake News, it’s Fake Science. There is no climate crisis, there’s weather and climate all around the world, and in fact carbon dioxide is the main building block of all life.” @foxandfriends  Wow!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 12, 2019

Even as you weaken the regulations on coal-fired power plants and are lenient with enforcing the Clean Power Plan, according to data obtained by environmental advocates through the Freedom of Information Act, the air quality will deteriorate even more and kill more Americans.

Air pollution, you see, does not discriminate between the Democrats (and their supporters) and the Republicans (and their supporters). You breathe the same air as Mr Obama or any other American.

With warm regards,

An Indian who wishes your country a speedy recovery from air pollution

Also read: I don't believe you: Donald Trump, world's biggest climate change denier