EPA Ends Dollar Valuations of Health Gains From PM2.5 and Ozone

Overview

• A recently published EPA rule and internal guidance state the agency will no longer monetize health benefits from reducing fine particulates and ozone, citing 'false precision' in past estimates.
• EPA officials say health impacts will still be weighed qualitatively, with the agency emphasizing that not monetizing does not mean ignoring human health effects.
• Formal cost-benefit analyses will now tally compliance expenses to industry without offsetting them with dollar-valued health gains traditionally used to justify stricter standards.
• Public-health researchers warn the shift could enable weaker pollution limits and increase risks for children, older adults, and people with chronic respiratory disease.
• Legal advocates signal potential court challenges, pointing to the Supreme Court’s 2015 Michigan v. EPA decision requiring balanced consideration of costs and benefits.