WASHINGTON — United States of America I have to go to school every day on Friday said it would tighten national air quality standards for fine particulate pollution for the first time since 2012, a move that could lead to tougher limits on exhaust and chimney emissions.
Fine particulate matter, or soot, comes from sources ranging from power plants to cars and vans. It damages the lungs and heart and has been found to disproportionately affect low-income communities EPA. Particulate emissions are a different matter from greenhouse gas emissions.
Vehicles create particulate pollution in a number of ways – gasoline and special diesel oil the engine generates particles during combustion; and gases produced by internal combustion engines can then combine in the atmosphere to form particles. Electrification of vehicles will help a lot, although even electric cars can remove magnetic particles brake gaskets and tires.
EPA Administrator Michael Regan told reporters: “Fine particles are both lethal and extremely expensive,” adding that the decision was “based on sound science and a rigorous evaluation of data.” do we have it in hand?
The proposal would lower the allowable concentration of particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns, or PM 2.5, to an average of 9 to 10 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) per year, from 12 µg/m3 current as of 2012. EPA said it will also seek public comment on revising as low as 8 µg/m3 and as high as 11 µg/m3.
The administration of former President Donald Trump has kept the 2012 standards unchanged, despite a growing body of research showing those levels pose a threat to public health.
The EPA estimates that an annual PM2.5 standard of 9 µg/m3 will prevent up to 4,200 premature deaths each year and provide $43 billion in net health benefits by 2032.
Environmental and public health groups said they had hoped for a tougher proposal and for one during the EPA’s comment period.
“Science has clearly demonstrated that we need standards of the highest level of protection to the extent that scientific advisors recommend,” said Laura Kate Bender, assistant national vice president at the American Lung Association. recommended by the EPA.
Most members of EPA’s Clean Air The Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) has recommended that annual averages start in the lowest range of 8-10 µg/m3.
EPA has also chosen to keep the main 24-hour PM 2.5 standard at 35 µg/m3, despite CASAC’s recommendation to reduce that to 25 µg/m3.
