Published: March 10, 2008

A New Ozone Hole: EPA's Final Air Quality Standard Falls Short

Share This Story

Newswise - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is scheduled to release its final rule for the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone, commonly known as smog, on Wednesday, March 12.

The American Thoracic Society (ATS) believes the standard will continue to jeopardize the health of many Americans, and, thus, the rule will fail to meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act. The act requires the EPA to set a standard that protects the public, including those most susceptible to the injurious effects of air pollution.

The current ozone standard is .08ppm/8-hours. The ATS and other medical and public health organizations have argued that a .060 ppm/8-hours is required, based on scientific studies of ozone and its impact on health. The EPA is likely to set a standard in the upper range of their proposed rule of .070 to .075 ppm/8-hour.

David H. Ingbar, M.D., president of the ATS, said, "Setting the standard above .06 ppm/8-hours will fall short of what is necessary to protect all Americans from ozone air pollution. Children, in particular are at greatest risk because they tend to spend more time outdoors."

Dr. Ingbar and other ATS members who are experts in environmental lung health are available to speak to reporters about the importance of a scientifically based ozone standard. You should feel free to contact them directly.

Source: American Thoracic Society (ATS)