One of the most pressing issues facing EPA in the review of the air quality standards for particulate matter (PM) is the need to strengthen the annual average standard for fine particles. (more…)

A new multi-center study reports that inner-city children with asthma may be particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of air pollution. The study focused on 860 children ages 5-12 who lived in low-income areas of Boston, the Bronx, Chicago, Dallas, New York, Seattle and Tucson. The children in the study had moderate to severe asthma, and most were black or Hispanic. The study involved a larger number of kids and a more comprehensive evaluation of respiratory health effects than earlier studies. (more…)

A new analysis relying on data from 98 U.S. communities finds that African-Americans are at greater risk of premature death from short-term ozone exposures than the general population.  Higher risks were also reported for the unemployed and users of public transit.  Previous studies had provided strong evidence of an association between short-term ozone exposures and risk of mortality.  This follow-up study to the National Morbidity, Mortality, and Air Pollution Study (NMMAPS) was intended to explore community-specific factors that might explain the difference in risk observed across communities.  (more…)