Ozone and PM Health Effects About the Clean Air Standards Website

This American Lung Association® website provides timely information to public health and environmental advocates about the EPA review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone and particulate matter.
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Next Up: Nitrogen Dioxide Standard

December 24th, 2008

In what could be the last major clean air policy decision of the Bush Administration, EPA is scheduled to publish its Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) on the primary nitrogen dioxide (NO2) NAAQS in the Federal Register on January 16, 2009.  The ANPR could be signed as early as January 9, 2009. Read more »

EPA Gears Up for Review of Particulate Standard

December 24th, 2008

EPA has published its first draft Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) for public review and comment.  The ISA is available online.   Read more »

EPA Publishes Schedule for Upcoming NAAQS Reviews

December 22nd, 2008

Do you need a scorecard to keep track of the major milestones in the EPA’s reviews of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for the major pollutants?
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New Particle Studies Bolster Case for Strenghtened Annual Standard

October 24th, 2008

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. Read more »

EPA Science Assessment for Sulfur Dioxide Suggests Need for Short-Term Standard

September 22nd, 2008

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a final science assessment for sulfur dioxide (SO2) which suggests that a short-term standard will be needed to protect public health. Read more »

EPA Kicks Off Review of Ozone Standards with Public Workshop

September 21st, 2008

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is embarking on a new review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone.  The Agency will hold a public kickoff workshop on October 29 - 30, 2008 in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina to discuss science and science policy issues relevant to the ozone NAAQS review. Read more »

35 Year Old Nitrogen Dioxide Standard Begs for Revision

September 21st, 2008

The current standard for nitrogen dioxide — an annual average standard — was set in 1971 and has not been revised since then.  In the past 35 plus years there has been a great deal of evidence pointing to the need for a short-term standard.  Read more »

EPA Reviews 1971 Air Quality Standards for Sulfur Dioxide

August 6th, 2008

The current National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for sulfur dioxide were set in 1971 based on a Criteria Document published in 1969 by the Department of Health Education and Welfare. The scientific articles considered in the original Criteria Document predate 1968. In 1971, the newly established EPA set the first primary sulfur dioxide NAAQS: an annual average standard of 0.03 ppm (80 µg/m3); and a 24-hour standard of 0.14 ppm (365 µg/m3). The current standards are based on 40 plus year old science. Read more »

California Report Bumps Up Estimates of Premature Deaths from Particle Pollution

May 30th, 2008

A draft report from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has estimated that 14,000 to 24,000 premature deaths each year are attributable to fine particle air pollution (PM2.5). Read more »

Groups Sue to Protect Americans from Smog

May 27th, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 27, 2008

CONTACTS:
David Baron, Earthjustice, (202) 667-4500
Carrie Martin, American Lung Association, (202) 715-3461
John Walke, Natural Resources Defense Council, (202) 289-2406
Mark Wenzler, National Parks Conservation Association, (202) 255-9013
Vickie Patton, Environmental Defense Fund, (720) 837-6239

Health, Environmental Groups Enforce the Clean Air Act to Protect Americans from Smog
EPA Science Advisor: “Willful ignorance triumphed over sound science” in setting standards

Washington, DC – Health and environmental advocates are filing suit today challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s refusal to adopt stronger ozone standards urged by its own scientists. Read more »