Asthma and Allergy Foundation criticizes Biden administration’s plan to lift E15 fuel ban

President Biden’s plan to help lower rising gas prices in the United States has been criticized for potentially harming people suffering from asthma and other respiratory conditions.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) told DailyMail.com that a plan to lift the E15 fuel ban during the summer would be harmful.

The fuel is 15% ethanol, so the nickname is generally considered better for the environment than typical types of gasoline, but produces low levels of air pollution that can harm people at ground level.

For people suffering from asthma or other respiratory conditions, the backflow of fuel during the summer can negatively affect their quality of life.

“Any action that increases air pollution is bad news for the asthma community,” President and CEO Kenneth Mendez told DailyMail.com.

Gas prices in the United States have soared in recent months, surpassing $4 a gallon this spring.

While prices dropped from $4,326 per gallon to $4,098 per gallon last month, more help is needed for AAA Americans.

As often happens when the weather starts to warm up, prices may start to rise again this summer.

President Biden (pictured) lifted the EPA’s summer ban on E15 gas, saying he could lower prices by as much as ten cents per gallon.

The increase in gas prices is linked to inflation in the cost of the main component, crude oil.

While almost all of the gas Americans use in their cars today contains some ethanol, increasing the amount of ethanol means there will be less crude oil.

The problem with E15 is that ethanol is actually alcohol. It evaporates into the air very quickly. On a hot summer day, it can create a dangerous fog that forms just above the road.

“We know that air pollution from vehicle emissions and fuel production/use poses a health threat to people with upper respiratory diseases such as asthma,” Mendez said. Said.

In response to the summer hazards of E15 gas, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned the use of E15 gas in summer 2011, along with all gasoline blends containing more than 10% ethanol.

The Biden administration hopes that lifting the regulations before this summer will help ease the upward pressure on prices by helping Americans at the gas pump.

There may be a price tag.

“The Clean Air Coalition is concerned that increasing the ethanol content of gasoline above 10 percent could increase the summer smoke that burns the lungs,” Bill Magvern, the coalition’s political director, told DailyMail.com.

Experts say that E15 gas can create dangerous smoke at ground level, which is especially dangerous for people with asthma and other respiratory conditions.

Ground-level fog has been associated with breathing difficulties, inflamed and damaged airways, and worsening conditions for asthma sufferers. Children are particularly at risk.

“So we’re taking a short-term approach to reducing gas prices, which is likely to do a lot of damage to health this summer,” he said. Aaron Reuben, an environmental scientist at Duke University, told DailyMail.com.

“I would like to urge people living in high-traffic areas (and states with persistent air quality issues like California) to monitor their air quality this summer and limit their exposure as much as possible. For example, exercise indoors if possible on days with poor air quality.

An analysis shows that even lifting the ban probably won’t have much impact.

According to an analysis by Quarzosolo, 1.5% of US service stations offer E15 gas and others may not be properly equipped to distribute it.

Biden expects a higher result, saying he could cut gasoline prices by as much as ten cents per gallon.

“I understand why the government is taking such actions to lower fuel prices, but it is a better approach to accelerate investment and promote clean energy,” Mendez said.