Biden Administration seeks to limit deadly air pollution

Summary:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to lower the limit of fine particle pollution per cubic meter of air from 12 micrograms, as set a decade ago, to 9-10 micrograms. The standard for particle pollution, also known as soot, was not changed by the Trump administration. The proposal aims to help prevent serious health problems including asthma attacks, heart attacks and premature deaths that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations such as children, older adults and those with heart and lung conditions as well as low-income and minority communities throughout the United States. The proposal, however, overlooks the recommendations of its clean air scientific advisory committee, which suggested a standard of 8 micrograms per cubic meter for soot.