The Disappearance of the EPA's Cancer Risk Data
The EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) recently removed cancer risk data from its latest air pollution data update, leaving communities and organizations without access to vital information about public health.
These data, which have been published periodically since 2002, detail the concentrations of dozens of toxic pollutants across the country, down to the census block level. The EPA began releasing these data annually in 2022, but the information is typically several years behind due to the time needed to compile the data.
Why This Matters
The omission of this data may have serious consequences for public health, especially for communities living near industrial sources of pollutants. Exposure to pollutants like benzene, formaldehyde, and ethylene oxide can increase the risk of cancer.
Organizations such as the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Air Alliance Houston use these data to inform the public and hold polluters accountable. Without these data, communities may struggle to access information about health risks in their areas.
The Science Behind Cancer Risk
The EPA uses a program called the Air Toxics Screening Assessment to calculate the cancer risk from air pollutants. This program takes into account the concentration of pollutants in the air and the time of exposure to estimate cancer risk.
The EPA generally follows limits of one additional cancer case per 10,000 people exposed over a lifetime. However, the agency also stated that cancer exposure would ideally be much lower, at one in a million.
Larger Context
The removal of the EPA's cancer risk data is part of a larger pattern of removal of environmental data and information by the Trump administration. The agency removed or modified nearly 2,000 web pages and datasets on science, climate, and environmental topics.
This includes the discontinuation of a tool that allowed the public to search for their inventory of facilities that handle large volumes of hazardous substances by zip code. The agency also shut down an environmental justice screening tool known as EJScreen, which was the EPA's flagship tool for tracking environmental hazards across the US.
What Happens Next
The omission of the EPA's cancer risk data may have significant implications for public health and environmental justice. Organizations and communities may need to find alternative ways to access this data and hold polluters accountable.
Furthermore, the removal of this data may be a sign of a broader pattern of deregulation and environmental neglect by the Trump administration. It is crucial that the public and organizations continue to pressure the EPA to provide accurate and accessible information about environmental health.
Consequences and Challenges
The removal of the EPA's cancer risk data may have serious consequences for public health, especially for vulnerable communities. Additionally, the lack of transparency and access to environmental information may hinder the ability to hold polluters accountable and protect the environment.
It is essential that organizations and the public continue to pressure the EPA to provide accurate and accessible information about environmental health and work together to protect public health and the environment.
Source / Reference
This story was originally published by Grist with the title The EPA’s data on cancer risk from air pollution has gone dark on August 14, 2026.