Proposed Coarse Particle Standards Leave Millions Unprotected, 5-20-06
Scientific studies link concentrations of airborne coarse particulate matter (PM) with hospitalizations and deaths due to heart and lung disease. Coarse PM comprises particles between 2.5 and 10 microns in diameter—less than 1/7 the diameter of a human hair. Air pollution from coarse PM is currently regulated under EPA’s National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for PM10, which limits airborne concentrations of particles 10 microns in diameter and smaller.
EPA has recently proposed to abolish the PM10 standard entirely, and adopt a separate coarse PM standard for particles in the 2.5- to 10-micron size range. Under EPA’s proposal, the new coarse particle standard would apply only in areas dominated by “urban” particulate sources, and would not apply at all to mining and agricultural emissions. The result of the proposal would be to substantially weaken the protection provided against coarse particles by current standards.
Earthjustice has prepared a White Paper on the Politics of Coarse Particle Pollution and Why the Proposed Standard Would Leave Millions Unprotected.
A copy of the White Paper is attached.
Attachments
- Coarse Particle White Paper
- white-paper-on-coarse-pm-f.pdf
Earthjustice White Paper on Coarse Particles, 4-06
