Environmental Deregulation
Monitoring the Changes that Affect Human Health
Scientific research has helped shape many of the environmental safeguards that protect people from harmful exposures. Air quality standards, drinking water protections, chemical safety requirements, pesticide regulations, and public health policies have all evolved as scientific understanding has improved.
Today, many of these safeguards are being reconsidered, revised, delayed, or repealed. Some changes may reduce costs or streamline government processes. Others may increase exposures to pollutants or chemicals that research has associated with adverse health effects. EHHI believes these changes deserve careful scientific evaluation.
A New EHHI Initiative: Building an Environmental Safeguards Tracker
EHHI is developing a national Environmental Safeguards Tracker that will document significant changes to environmental regulations, policies, and enforcement actions affecting human health.
Rather than advocating for or against individual policies, the project will provide an objective, science-based resource explaining:
- What changed
- Why the safeguard originally existed
- The scientific evidence supporting the safeguard
- Potential implications for human exposure
- Possible public health consequences
Links to the original regulations, supporting research, and independent analyses
Our goal is to help policymakers, researchers, journalists, donors, educators, and the public better understand how changes in environmental protections may affect people's health.
Why This Matters
Environmental safeguards are often developed over many years through scientific research, public comment, and regulatory review.
When safeguards change, it can be difficult to understand:
- what changed
- why it changed
- what science supported the previous safeguard
- and whether the change could affect human health
EHHI seeks to bridge that gap by translating complex policy changes into understandable scientific information.
Get Involved!
Learn how to get involved with important environmental issues.
Help Build this Resource
The Environmental Safeguards Tracker is currently under development. With philanthropic support, EHHI plans to build a comprehensive, continuously updated national resource that documents significant changes to environmental safeguards affecting human health.
Funding will support:
- Scientific review of regulatory changes
- Development of an online searchable database
- Plain-language summaries of complex policies
- Interactive timelines
- Expert commentary
- Educational materials
- Public access to supporting scientific literature
Interested in supporting this initiative?
Contact EHHI to learn how you can help launch the Environmental Safeguards Tracker. Email us today at donate@ehhi.org or make a donation.
Recent Environmental Safeguard Changes
Air Pollution
Change – EPA announced it would reconsider several air pollution regulations affecting power plants and industrial emissions.
Why the safeguard existed – The original standards were based on decades of research linking particulate matter and ozone exposure with asthma, cardiovascular disease, lung disease, and premature death.
Potential public health implications – Changes could alter future emission limits and increase exposures in some communities depending on how new standards are implemented.
Drinking Water
Change – Federal drinking water regulations affecting PFAS continue to evolve through litigation, implementation decisions, and regulatory review.
Why the safeguard existed – PFAS research has linked exposure to developmental effects, immune system impacts, certain cancers, thyroid disease, and other health concerns.
Potential public health implications – Changes could affect drinking water monitoring requirements, cleanup efforts, and public water system compliance.
Chemical Safety
Change – Several reviews of industrial chemicals and pesticide regulations have been delayed or reconsidered.
Why the safeguard existed – Chemical evaluations help determine whether substances present unreasonable risks to workers, consumers, and children.
Potential public health implications – Delays may postpone restrictions or updated safety standards while scientific evaluations continue.
Climate & Air Quality
Change – Several greenhouse gas regulations and vehicle emission standards are under review.
Why the safeguard existed – These standards also reduce pollutants that contribute to respiratory disease and cardiovascular disease.
Potential public health implications – Changes may influence future air quality and population exposure.
The Policies We’ve Effected
Learn how EHHI has helped translate scientific research into public policies.