In anticipation of the upcoming five-year review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM), the U.S. EPA has appointed several new members to the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) and a number of additional consulting members to serve on the PM review panel.  (more…)

A number of leading public health organizations including Physicians for Social Responsibiity, the American Heart Association, the National Association of County and City Health Officials, the American Nurses Association, the American Lung Association, and others have filed comments with EPA in support of stringent new air quality standards for ozone smog.   

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A broad, bipartisan coalition of members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter October 2, 2007 to the Environmental Protection Agency calling for strong limits on smog pollution. (more…)

What are the top ten ozone health studies show effects at concentrations of 60 ppb? 

Lung Association consultant Deborah Shprentz presented the top ten list in testimony on the proposed revisions to the EPA air quality standards for ozone at a public hearing in Philadelphia on August 30, 2007.    (more…)

On June 21, 2007 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to strengthen the official “limit” on ground level ozone smog. Unfortunately, EPA’s proposal fails to follow the law and protect public health adequately from this widespread and dangerous air pollutant. Overwhelming scientific evidence, including reviews by independent scientists, confirm that public health is seriously at risk and needs much more protection.  EPA will take comments until October 9, 2007, including at five public hearings on August 30 and September 5.  The American Lung Association and many other medical societies, public health and environmental groups are urging EPA to adopt standards that provide much more protection.

For more information on what you can do and for details on the public hearings, please refer to the fact sheet available here:  8-2-07 Ozone Standards Action Alert

EPA will hold public hearings in five cities around the country to gather public comment on its proposed revisions to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone. 

The hearings will be held in Philadelphia and Los Angeles on Thursday August 30, 2007, and in Chicago, Houston, and Atlanta on Wednesday September 5, 2007.  (more…)

A major medical association, the American Thoracic Society, has laid out the case for EPA to strengthen the air quality standard for ozone smog.  (more…)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed to lower the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone, but not to the levels recommended by its independent scientific advisors.  In addition, the Agency is taking comment on the option of retaining the existing standard, leaving open the possibility that a final rule would leave the existing standard unchanged. (more…)

Statement of Norman Edelman, MD
Chief Medical Officer
American Lung Association
June 21, 2007

The proposed revisions to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone smog announced today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are a step toward cleaner air.  While the American Lung Association is pleased that the EPA is calling for tighter standards, the agency’s plan falls short of the goal recommended by its own scientific experts.  We are particularly concerned that the EPA has left the door open to choosing options that are simply not acceptable.  We have reason to be concerned.  (more…)

It’s big polluters versus health and science –  And an EPA decision hangs in the balance (more…)