I was relieved to see that the Environmental Protection Agency is appealing the court decision to throw out the cross-state air pollution rule (“EPA appeals court ruling on pollution from coal-fired plants,” Page A9, Oct. 6). The rule would have protected my patients from the dangerous influx of air pollution that blows into our communities from out-of-state power plants.

Air pollution is a seemingly silent public health crisis that places the greatest burden on children and those living with chronic lung diseases, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease. On poor air-quality days, my patients with asthma and chronic bronchitis struggle to breathe. It’s a frightening situation that can be prevented, or at least better managed, with sensible air-quality protections.