A major shift to electric vehicles and a clean power grid in the US could save tens of thousands of lives over the next few decades, according to a new report by the American Lung association.

The drop in pollution from tailpipes and power plants would prevent up to 110,000 premature deaths by 2050. It would also avoid 2.78 million asthma attacks and 13.4 million lost workdays. All in all, that would amount to $ 1.2 trillion in public health benefits.

Just under 3 percent of new vehicles purchased in the US in 2021 are electric. All new passenger cars sold in the U.S. are electric by 2040.

The health advocates say a safe environment should be non-negotiable. afif el-hasan, a pediatrician and American Lung association volunteer, said on a press call:’it should be a right of every child to play and develop somewhere safe. That should not be up for debate ever’.

Breathing in that pollution has been tied to cancer, heart attacks, strokes, and lung diseases. Americans of color are three times more likely to be breathing the worst air pollution compared to white Americans.

The American Lung association looked at how phasing out fossil fuel combustion would limit key pollutants. That includes soot, smog-forming nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, and sulfur dioxide coming from tailpipes and smokestacks.

Particles that enter the air from the wear-and-tear of roads and vehicles, say from tires or brake pads. The report authors also studied another type of pollution that often flies under the radar.

The report also points out health benefits from cutting down emissions that drive climate change. E-Bikes, scooters, and other light electric vehicles can also significantly cut down emissions when they replace cars.