Murray McBride

Emeritus Professor, School of Integrative Plant Science Soil and Crop Sciences Section

Murray McBride is a soil and crop scientist who studies the behavior of soil and water contaminants. McBride says the proposed deregulations could result in the return of acid rain, worsen urban smog, and pollute soil used to grow crops.

McBride says: 

“Easing limits on emissions from power plants, including those that burn coal, is likely to increase release of greenhouse gases as well as pollutants (such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and mercury) that in the past created acid rain, acidified lakes and soils, and introduced mercury into ecosystems. 

“The Adirondacks in New York were particularly affected by these atmospheric emissions with serious impacts on fish and more acid-sensitive tree species such as maples. It appears that under Lee Zeldin’s leadership, we may see the return of acid rain and its damaging effects on ecosystems. 

“In addition, the proposed loosening of standards for emissions from power plants as well as from cars and trucks could bring back the urban smog that was common in cities such as Los Angeles before the EPA began instituting stricter vehicle emission standards in the mid 1970’s. We only need today to look at the terribly unhealthy air quality in some cities around the world (e.g., in China) where emission standards are weak or non-existent to realize how important and effective these stricter EPA standards have been. 

“The proposal to weaken federal restrictions on the uses of wastewater from oil and gas drilling (for example, fracking wastewater) as well as coal ash could mean that some states with weaker rules may allow the use of these contaminated materials in agriculture. The various chemicals and toxic metals in these wastes can severely pollute soils, damage soil fertility, and transfer toxic substances into food crops.”