In Friday's announcement, EPA set a new annual air quality standard for soot -- also known as fine particulate matter or "PM2.5" -- at 12 micrograms per cubic meter. That's significantly tighter than the standard of 15 that the agency had established during the Clinton administration, which EPA's science advisers have called too weak, given recent studies, to prevent heart attacks, stroke, cardiac arrest, congestive heart failure and exacerbated symptoms of asthma and other respiratory problems.
Other research shows that "long-term PM2.5 exposures may be linked to cancer and to harmful developmental and reproductive effects, such as infant mortality and low birth weight," EPA says.
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said that preventing health problems could save $5 billion a year.
Former Obama climate and energy adviser Carol Browner, who led EPA in the Clinton administration, said:
"The Obama administration should be commended for this work and encouraged to continue to fight for cleaner air with protections against carbon pollution from power plants."
© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.
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