ABOUT

Enviroblog is a project of Environmental Working Group, covering public health, environmental policy, and better
consumer choices. (Meet our authors here.)

TIPS

Did we miss something? Email Amanda.

BLOGROLL

FEED

 Subscribe in a reader

KEEP IN TOUCH

Sign up below for EWG's bimonthly email updates.

Childhood obesity increases dramatically

Prenatal PFC exposure:
The weight just won't stick

SMM: iCount video bonanza

ARCHIVE

select month August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004

SEARCH

« Sunscreen: what about nanoparticles? | Main | Study makes the case for further CDC investigation: links between vaccinations and neurobehavioral disorders? »

June 25, 2007

EPA proposes new smog standards; environmentalists wheeze their disapproval

Update: Okay, I may have been a little hard on the EPA yesterday. At least they're making an effort. Also, check out Angry Toxicologist's post, The Asthmatic Elephant in the Ozone Room.

Having trouble breathing?

EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson wants to fix that -- as long as industry groups don't mind too much.

In their first new recommendation on ground-level ozone since 1997, the Agency is calling for an 11 to 17 percent reduction on current smog standards. Johnson says that "the current standard is insufficient to protect public health," a statement which sounds like it could only lead to vigorous improvements.

And the EPA recommendation is an improvement -- a reduction of ground ozone levels from .08 parts per million to between .070 and .075 parts per million. But while it solicits public comment on the recommendation, the EPA will also consider other options -- including leaving the standards right where they are. While the Agency's Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee has implied that even the proposed reduction might be too lax (they recommend that standards set ozone levels no higher than .070 parts per million), the EPA has left the door open for business and industry groups who consider the reduction costly and unnecessary.

Gosh. I'm breathing better already, aren't you?

I should note that the EPA is also accepting comment on alternative plans that would set the standards as low as .06 parts per million -- so take heart, asthmatics. A 90-day public comment period will follow after the proposal is published in the Federal Register, and the EPA will settle on a number in March of 2008.

« Sunscreen: what about nanoparticles? |