As paltry as the spending cuts made with the recent federal budget compromise may have been when looking at the overall national budget deficit, there is an area that was hit that could mean grave circumstances for the near future. The target in discussion is the budget of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The proposed budget cuts managed to eliminate around 16% or roughly around $1.6 billion. While this has yet to touch on any of the serious health related issues such as the monitoring of water contamination, and the Clean Air Act, many GOP representatives see the EPA as a force stifling business profits and raising the already climbing gas prices, and could use these arguments to continue combating EPA regulations and initiatives.

The GOP’s conscious effort to stifle EPA resources met success in 2011, and may result in exploration of further cuts into the 2012 year. Looking at The EPA’s contribution to cutting down on environmentally related health problems each year, a cut to the EPA budget could result in an increase of health related issues.

Gas prices may be rising, and job growth may be at record lows, but the health risks of an EPA budget cut is something that is not to be viewed lightly. If budget cuts are to continue, air quality, and pollution would certainly compliment a spike in health dangers like asthma and mesothelioma. This is not a light issue when lived are potentially at stake. For instance, the mesothelioma life expectancy averages at about 14 months after diagnosis. The EPA has even made note that 160,000 cases of premature deaths, 130,000 heart attacks, 1.7 million asthma attacks, and 13 million lost work days have been prevented by the initiatives like the Clean Air Act.

It’s important to consider the realistic possibility that many businesses losing money will continue to push harmful contaminants in the air if EPA emission regulations aren’t enforced. When it comes to federal budget cuts, they should be calculated and enacted with the population of the country when all is said and done. Cutting the EPA budget has certainly sparked debate with two sides with valid points. However, while reduction of gas prices and a stimulated job market may seem great, in the long term health risk associated with pollutants, toxins, and chemicals is another story.