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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Nurses, County Health Officials Weigh in on Ozone Standards

October 9th, 2007

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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Members of Congress Tell EPA to Limit Smog Pollution

October 2nd, 2007

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. Read more »

Parade of Speakers Support Tighter Ozone Standards

September 1st, 2007

A long parade of witnesses spoke in support of tighter ozone air quality standards at EPA public hearings in Philadelphia and Los Angeles on August 30, 2007.  Some of the more interesting statements are posted below.

Additional public hearings will be held in Chicago, Houston, and Atlanta on September 5, 2007.  To sign up to speak at the public hearings, go to: 

http://epa.gov/air/ozonepollution/naaqsrev2007.html 

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Top Ten Ozone Studies

August 29th, 2007

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.    Read more »

The Evidence is Overwhelming: EPA Must Set a Stronger Ozone Standard

July 31st, 2007

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 Sets 5 Public Hearings on Ozone NAAQS

July 23rd, 2007

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, 2007Read more »

American Thoracic Society Endorses Stringent Ozone Standard

July 7th, 2007

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

Ozone Kills Fact Sheet

July 7th, 2007

There is strong, consistent evidence that links ozone (commonly referred to as smog) to premature deaths.  Cleaning up air pollution will save thousands of lives.  Read more »

EPA Proposes to Strengthen Ozone Standards, June 21, 2007

June 22nd, 2007

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. Read more »

Statement of ALA on EPA Proposal for Ozone NAAQS, June 21, 2007

June 21st, 2007

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.  Read more »