Santa  Claus and Soot Pollution

When we were younger, some of us couldn’t wait until Christmas, when Santa would come down the chimney with gifts for the good boys and girls. But when our parents told us about Santa going up and down chimneys, nobody mentioned the possibility of him breathing in soot. If Santa were real, inhaling that much soot would be a serious health hazard.

None of us climb up and down as many chimneys as Santa, but we still have to worry about fine particle pollution, also known as soot. Soot is all around us, released by a multitude of sources including power plants, cars, and a variety of industrial processes.

The severe health consequences of soot pollution are well-documented—exposure to soot can cause low birth weight, asthma attacks, and may even contribute to infant mortality. There is no question that soot pollution shortens lives.

We all need to do what we can to make sure our children and grandchildren don’t grow up breathing in dangerous soot pollution.

If you haven’t already, please take a moment to tell the EPA you demand stronger safeguards against soot pollution.

Please raise your voice for your children, grandchildren, and future children and grandchildren.

Sincerely,

Dominique Browning
Co-Founder and Senior Director, Moms Clean Air Force