This American Lung Association® website provides timely information to public health and environmental advocates about the EPA review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone and particulate matter.
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One of the most pressing issues facing EPA in the review of the air quality standards for particulate matter (PM) is the need to strengthen the annual average standard for fine particles. Read more »

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a final science assessment for sulfur dioxide (SO2) which suggests that a short-term standard will be needed to protect public health. Read more »

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is embarking on a new review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone.  The Agency will hold a public kickoff workshop on October 29 - 30, 2008 in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina to discuss science and science policy issues relevant to the ozone NAAQS review. Read more »

The current standard for nitrogen dioxide — an annual average standard — was set in 1971 and has not been revised since then.  In the past 35 plus years there has been a great deal of evidence pointing to the need for a short-term standard.  Read more »

The current National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for sulfur dioxide were set in 1971 based on a Criteria Document published in 1969 by the Department of Health Education and Welfare. The scientific articles considered in the original Criteria Document predate 1968. In 1971, the newly established EPA set the first primary sulfur dioxide NAAQS: an annual average standard of 0.03 ppm (80 µg/m3); and a 24-hour standard of 0.14 ppm (365 µg/m3). The current standards are based on 40 plus year old science. Read more »

A draft report from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has estimated that 14,000 to 24,000 premature deaths each year are attributable to fine particle air pollution (PM2.5). Read more »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 27, 2008

CONTACTS:
David Baron, Earthjustice, (202) 667-4500
Carrie Martin, American Lung Association, (202) 715-3461
John Walke, Natural Resources Defense Council, (202) 289-2406
Mark Wenzler, National Parks Conservation Association, (202) 255-9013
Vickie Patton, Environmental Defense Fund, (720) 837-6239

Washington, DC – Health and environmental advocates are filing suit today challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s refusal to adopt stronger ozone standards urged by its own scientists. Read more »

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform chaired by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) will hold an oversight hearing on May 20, 2008 to examine the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new ozone standards.

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A new report by a Committee of the National Academy of Sciences has confirmed that short-term exposure to ozone smog is likely contributing to premature deaths. Read more »

A new multi-center study reports that inner-city children with asthma may be particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of air pollution. The study focused on 860 children ages 5-12 who lived in low-income areas of Boston, the Bronx, Chicago, Dallas, New York, Seattle and Tucson. The children in the study had moderate to severe asthma, and most were black or Hispanic. The study involved a larger number of kids and a more comprehensive evaluation of respiratory health effects than earlier studies. Read more »