EPA Decision to Rollback MATS Puts Children’s Health in Jeopardy February 20, 2026

For Immediate Release

Contact: Paige Knappenberger, pknappenberger@psr.org, 602-549-0344

Despite the backing of peer-reviewed science and public outcry including thousands of comments in opposition to a repeal, Lee Zeldin’s EPA has finalized a rule to significantly weaken Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), allowing fossil fuel power plants, mainly coal-powered plants to continue spewing dangerous air pollutants across the country.

MATS have been successful thus far, with EPA data showing that the 2012 standards helped to avoid thousands of premature deaths and hospital visits by decreasing mercury emissions by 90% compared to pre-standard levels. Technology has advanced since this time and many power plants have already installed safety measures to prevent pollution. A rollback of MATS would allow polluters to backslide and pollute more than they have been over the past decade. 

This repeal will harm the health of every American, but vulnerable populations, including babies and children are most at risk. Mercury pollution causes permanent brain damage in infants and children, leading to permanent brain damage with long-term consequences such as development delays, learning disabilities and behavioral problems. MATS have been proven to save lives since originally enacted in 2012. The updated, now repealed, standards would have created an estimated $300 million in health benefits over the next decade, but most experts agree that the actual health benefits would be much greater. 

The updates to MATS were meant to prevent acute impacts of dangerous pollution, such as mercury. By doing this, facilities would also reduce co-pollutants like greenhouse gases that cause climate change and particulate matter which is linked to a wide and growing array of serious health harms. Every push towards deregulation puts lives on the line. The Trump administration is willing to sacrifice the health and safety of Americans as a favor to the fossil fuel industry.

Quotes for press: 

“The rollbacks of standards of mercury and other hazardous pollutants are a step in the wrong direction for the health of all Americans, but especially children. Mercury exposure in pregnancy has been associated with birth defects and children exposed to mercury can suffer from additional cognitive impairments. These rollbacks trade their tomorrow for policies that ignore science, dismiss evidence, and prioritize polluters over children.”

– Harleen Marwah, MD MS, PSR Board Member & pediatrician

“The Trump administration’s repeal of mercury and air toxics emissions standards will have negative consequences on my patients’ health and harm people all across the country. Vulnerable populations such as people of color, the elderly, children, and low income individuals will suffer the most if power plants are allowed to continue with business as usual. Adverse health impacts include  increased asthma attacks in  children, heart attack, stroke, and cancer in adults. All from breathing totally preventable  toxic emissions. Our healthcare system does not have the capacity to compensate  for the federal government’s negligence.”

– Mark Vossler, MD, PSR Board Member

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