California Groups Urge Health-Protective 24-Hour Standard, March 5, 2002
The California Air Quality Advisory Committee (AQAC) met on January 23 and 24, 2002, to consider a draft report prepared by the Air Resources Board (ARB) and the Office of Environmental Health Hazarad Assessment regarding recommended changes to the state ambient air quality standards for particulate matter. The major conclusion from the meeting was that staff report needed to be revised to include a 24-hour standard for PM2.5.
A number of health and environmental organizations wrote to the ARB urging follow-up action on the Committee’s recommendations:
“We strongly support the recommendations of the Committee regarding the need for a short-term fine particle air quality standard. We agree with the observations made by a number of the Committee members that strong evidence of adverse effects of fine particles is found in the studies showing statistically significant correlations between changes in daily concentrations and increases in mortality, hospitalizations, respiratory symptoms, lung function and other measures of adverse health effects,” the groups stated.
“It is clear that an annual standard alone will not prevent spikes in fine particles associate with mortality and morbidity effects. For example, higher daily concentrations in the range of 50 mg/m3 are being measured seasonally in the East Bay where annual concentrations may meet the annual standard of 12 mg/m3. Given the well-demonstrated acute effects of daily fine particle concentrations, it is clear these concentrations must be addressed by a 24-hour standard set at a level adequate to prevent adverse effects with a margin of safety.”
The letter was signed by the American Lung Association® of California, American Lung Association®, Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Working Group, Medical Alliance for Healthy Air, and Transportation Solutions Defense and Education Fund.
A copy of the letter is attached.
Attachments
- CARB 24-hour letter
- carb24-hour.doc
Groups Letter on CARB 24-hour standards
