A new commentary found that power plants’ use of these devices saved up to 9,100 lives and up to $100 billion in health costs in 2023. These estimates reveal the substantial health benefits that could be at stake if the next presidential administration implements policies that aim to weaken the Clean Air Act and limit the regulatory authority of the EPA. The commentary was written by researchers at Boston University School of Public Health, the Sierra Club, the Institute for the Environment at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

Researchers at University of Tsukuba analyzed healthcare data from Ibaraki Prefecture and found that few people seek medical care after being notified of abnormal lipid levels during health checkups. Those least likely to pursue medical care had characteristics such as irregular visits to medical institutions and no other abnormal results during the checkup. These findings could help motivate individuals with abnormal lipid levels to seek medical care.