More Danger in the Air: The New Science of Fine Particle Pollution
And Why You’ll Want to Start Paying Attention Now
WASHINGTON, D.C.– 6/23/2005 — It seems like only yesterday. In 1997, the cast of “Seinfeld” celebrated Festivus. “Titanic” won the Oscar for best picture. And the U.S. EPA set tougher new standards aimed at cleaning up deadly fine particle pollution in our air.
But that was eight long years ago. Time has moved on. So has the science of air pollution.
Now there is a growing scientific consensus that those 1997 air quality standards aren’t sufficient to protect tens of millions of Americans from getting ill. And very soon the EPA will be called on again to take action — perhaps the most important decision that EPA Administrator Steve Johnson will ever make.
Why are scientists more concerned than ever about fine particle pollution? What is EPA likely to do? And how might this affect the health of the public?
The American Lung Association will sponsor a media briefing on these issues on June 28, 2005.
Briefing materials are attached below.
Attachments
- Backgrounder: What is Particulate Matter?
- what-is-particulate-matter.doc
Backgrounder 6/27/05
- Briefing Charts: Stronger Standards Mean Fewer Deaths
- charts-for-briefing-final.doc
Briefing Charts 6/27/05
- Air Quality Standard Setting Process
- standard-setting-process-f.doc
Backgrounder 6/27/05
- Lettter from 100 Scientists to EPA
- 100-scientists-letter.pdf
Letter to EPA’s Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee 3/10/2005
- The Choices EPA Faces Over the Particulate Matter Standards
- standards-options-final.doc
Fact Sheet 6/27/05
- New Science Shows Effects Below Current Standards
- science-summary-final.doc
Fact Sheet 6/27/05
- Health Organizations Supporting More Protective Standards
- health-organizations-on-re.doc
List of Organizations 6/27/05
