Washington Turns Super-Toxic, Daily Brief May 28, 2025.

People often say politics in Washington create a toxic environment. This time, it’s literal. 

Last week, the United States Congress passed a sweeping rollback of important pollution control standards. If Trump signs it into law, the environment will suffer – and so will people’s health. 

The move would cancel a current rule that controls emissions of so-called “super-toxic” chemicals. These include things like lead compounds, arsenic, mercury, and benzene.  

According to the experts at the National Resources Defense Council, super-toxics are the “most dangerous, persistent, bioaccumulative hazardous air pollutants that the law controls.” The word “bioaccumulative” is important here. These poisons build up over time in living tissues – that is, in you and me. 

But even at extremely low levels of exposure, super toxics cause serious health problems. This includes cancer, developmental disorders, and neurological damage. Maternal and reproductive health is particularly at risk, as pregnant people and fetuses are extremely sensitive to these poisons. 

The new law would allow over 1,800 industrial facilities to drop strict emissions controls on super toxics. It would also allow them to ignore air pollution monitoring and reporting that’s currently required. 

This would put everyone in the US at risk – but, of course, some more than others. Communities near high-poluting industries are closer to the front line. 

Many of these communities already face grim health problems from industrial pollution. Regular Daily Brief readers may recall our look at Louisiana’s Cancer Alley, “A Human Sacrifice to Fossil Fuels.” 

Simply put, if this bill passes, expect more “cancer alleys” in the US. 

Obviously, President Trump should not sign this disastrous bill. It’s hard to see, though, what arguments might convince him not to. After all, this is not a politician with a strong record on environmental protection or public health.  

Perhaps, however, he’ll think about his historic legacy. Maybe he’ll pause for a moment and realize he doesn’t want to become known for making the United States dirtier and deadlier. 

Hope dies last.