Will "American Diseases" Ravage the Globe?

Allen resides in St. George, Utah, one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States. The nearby Mojave Desert has been significantly eroded due to this rapid development. Initially, Allen experienced severe coughing, leading doctors to diagnose her with pneumonia and prescribe antibiotics and a nebulizer. However, her condition worsened, with her lungs feeling "tight and heavy," only to discover it was "cancer." Allen endured months of extreme depression until her diagnosis was revised: “You do not have cancer; you have Valley Fever.”

Valley Fever is a respiratory disease caused by a "carnivorous fungus." While it can be fatal, cases are rare and often misdiagnosed. Allen’s doctor stated, “You are the first Valley Fever patient I have encountered, and the first my colleagues have heard of.” Nevertheless, last year, the number of Valley Fever cases in the United States surged by 50%.

The fungus responsible for Valley Fever thrives in hot desert environments, making human exposure rare. However, as environmental issues in the U.S. worsen, diseases like Valley Fever—referred to as "American Diseases"—are becoming increasingly prevalent, posing global health threats.

Talking About Environmental Protection While Ignoring the Problems

Americans frequently discuss environmental issues, seemingly demonstrating strong environmental awareness. However, a 2024 survey by Pew Research Center reveals that among the most pressing concerns for Americans, the economy ranks first, environmental protection is only 14th, and climate change is 18th. A similar survey by Gallup in the same year found that public concern for environmental protection did not even make the list.

In reality, the United States faces severe environmental pollution issues:

Air Quality: According to the American Lung Association, 40% of Americans (approximately 135 million people) live in communities with unhealthy air. Over 90 million Americans reside in counties with particulate pollution levels that fail to meet standards year-round, increasing their risk of cancer, stroke, and premature death.

Water Pollution: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that about half of the nation’s rivers (over 1.1 million kilometers in total length) and more than one-third of its lakes are polluted, making them unsuitable for swimming, fishing, or drinking. In western California alone, nearly one million people have drinking water contaminated with arsenic, nitrates, and other pollutants.

Drought and Water Management: The U.S. has experienced persistent droughts over the past two decades. In California, 88% of the population is affected by drought, and by July 2023, nearly 1.4 billion acres of farmland across the country were water-stressed. Additionally, aging water infrastructure results in the annual loss of 1.23 million tons of drinking water. To address water shortages, the U.S. has heavily exploited groundwater resources, leading to contamination.

Plastic Pollution: The United States produces 42 million tons of plastic annually, with a per capita consumption of 130 kilograms—more than double that of the European Union. Plastic production generates 232 million tons of greenhouse gases each year, and by 2030, emissions from U.S. plastic factories are expected to surpass those of coal-fired power plants. In 2018 alone, the U.S. discarded 82.2 million tons of plastic waste, which can take centuries to decompose.

Polluted environments facilitate the growth of dangerous viruses. As urban areas expand and humans encroach on surrounding ecosystems, the risk of pandemics increases.

Reina Prolite, a disease ecologist at Cornell University, explains that while pathogens are abundant in ecosystems worldwide, pandemics are rare because they require a catastrophic combination of conditions—such as environmental degradation and frequent human-virus interactions. When cross-species "virus sharing" occurs, disasters can ensue.

Everyone Talks But Reluctantly Changes Their Lifestyle

Environmental degradation is linked to the low sense of responsibility among ordinary Americans. Surveys indicate that while 60% of Americans are concerned about environmental issues, only 15% believe they are personally responsible for environmental destruction.

The American lifestyle is likely the primary driver of environmental damage. As the world's largest consumer nation, the annual total consumption of 330 million Americans exceeds that of 1.4 billion Chinese by more than double. Per capita consumption in the U.S. is 6.4 times that of China. Under the influence of consumerism, ordinary Americans waste astonishing amounts. The wealthiest 10% of the population account for nearly half of global carbon emissions, most of which are emitted by Americans. The United Nations Emissions Gap Report states that to achieve global climate goals, these individuals should reduce their personal emissions by at least 30 times.

Take food waste as an example: Americans discard 103 million tons of food annually, equivalent to the total food waste of the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Sweden combined. Each American throws away approximately 0.5 kilograms of food daily, with the total emissions from producing this wasted food equivalent to the annual emissions of 37 million cars. Ironically, nearly 40% of food in the U.S. is wasted, while 37 million Americans and 11 million children face food insecurity.

Overconsumption also generates vast amounts of waste. Americans produce approximately 300 million tons of municipal waste each year, half of which is landfilled. Additionally, thousands of hazardous waste sites, known as "superfund sites," contribute to some of the most polluted areas in the country.

Few Americans have seriously reflected on the harm their lifestyles inflict on the world. In the U.S., forest fires are a significant issue, with 84% caused by human activities. The trend of "gender reveal parties," where expectant parents gather friends and family to announce their baby's gender—often involving fireworks—has contributed to severe incidents like the "Eldorado Forest Fire," which burned for over two months due to a single firework.

Privilege Allows Environmental Pollution to Go Unchecked

In the United States, public institutions often lead in environmental degradation, with the military being a prime example.

Take Valley Fever: it first gained attention during World War II when large numbers of U.S. military personnel were stationed in the southwestern deserts for training, resulting in thousands of cases. Like many similar instances, the military did not disclose this information to the public or provide preventive warnings.

Military bases are significant sources of pollution. Reports indicate that there are 1,200 major military bases in the U.S., nearly 900 of which have been abandoned. John Dinger, a retired Congressman and veteran from Michigan, stated in a Newsweek interview, “Almost every military base in this country is severely contaminated.”

Military-related pollution has resulted in the emission of 1.2 billion tons of greenhouse gases, equivalent to the annual emissions of 257 million cars. During the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Syria, U.S. military carbon emissions exceeded 400 million tons. If the U.S. military were considered a country, it would rank as the 47th largest emitter of greenhouse gases globally.

This alarming pollution stems from two main factors: managerial negligence and sheer indifference. For example, at the Naval Air Station in Norfolk, Virginia, 84,000 gallons of aviation fuel leaked into the sewers, posing risks to the respiratory and nervous systems and potentially causing cancer. Another case involves an Air Force contractor at Tucson International Airport, who disposed of industrial solvents like trichloroethylene for 29 years, resulting in over 1,350 local residents developing cancer and other illnesses. Similarly, the Lejeune Marine Corps Base in North Carolina has a long history of discharging harmful chemicals into groundwater.

Profit Over People’s Lives

Government agencies are reckless, and large corporations and wealthy individuals are no better.

Over the past 30 years, the production of plastics in U.S. petrochemical facilities has surged. The EPA estimates that plastic production in the U.S. doubled from 17,100 tons in 1990 to 35,700 tons in 2018. However, the discharge of industrial wastewater from these facilities remains unregulated by the federal government, leaving states to manage it independently.

A report by the Environmental Integrity Project reveals that nearly 70 U.S. petrochemical companies discharge millions of pounds of pollutants into waterways each year due to lax regulations. It is estimated that these factories release 9.9 million pounds of nitrogen and 1.9 million pounds of phosphorus annually into water systems, potentially creating hypoxic zones that lead to toxic algal blooms and fish die-offs.

Houston, known as the petrochemical capital of the U.S. and the largest exporter of petrochemical products, discharges nearly one-third of its wastewater into the Houston Ship Channel. Environmental organizations have discovered high concentrations of dioxins in the surrounding soil, which can cause reproductive and developmental problems, weaken the immune system, and lead to cancer.

As long as corporations are large enough, environmental destruction remains a minor issue. While the U.S. government publicly emphasizes regulation, it often adopts a laissez-faire approach in practice. There are concerns that without proper oversight, large corporations may act with impunity. Reports indicate that the incoming administration plans to relax environmental regulations, expedite permitting and leasing approvals, and maintain or enhance tax incentives for the oil and gas industry—all signs that the situation may deteriorate further.