(RALEIGH) -- Doctors are joining the debate over rolling back regulations on air pollution in North Carolina. Our state has higher standards than the federal government, and some businesses are asking for those standards to be lowered.

Opponents say the state's largest polluters dumped 34 million pounds of air toxins and 1.5 million pounds of carcinogens in 2010. Goldsboro pediatrician Dr. David Tayloe said it's all about the bottom line for businesses.

"There's no question that when North Carolina put the state air toxics orogram in on top of, or in collaboration with, the federal program it cost more to meet those guidelines," said Tayloe.  Regardless, Tayloe said public health should come first.

He said air pollutants are linked to fetal death, cancer, cardiac disease, and respiratory disease in children and adults. Tayloe and other physicians hope their opinions will be heard before changes to the environmental regulations are made.