{"id":3746,"date":"2012-12-14T16:01:34","date_gmt":"2012-12-14T21:01:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/climate411\/?p=3746"},"modified":"2012-12-14T17:20:16","modified_gmt":"2012-12-14T22:20:16","slug":"epa-updates-standards-to-reduce-levels-of-deadly-soot-pollution-in-our-air","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/climate411\/2012\/12\/14\/epa-updates-standards-to-reduce-levels-of-deadly-soot-pollution-in-our-air\/","title":{"rendered":"EPA Updates Standards to Reduce Levels of Deadly Soot Pollution in Our Air"},"content":{"rendered":"

America took a big step toward cleaner, healthier air today.<\/p>\n

Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released<\/a> its long-awaited updated standards for fine particulate matter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

EDF was among the many health and environmental groups applauding the life-saving new standards<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Fine particulate matter is often referred to as soot<\/strong>, although it actually comprises a broader array of fine particles.\u00a0It gets into the air we breathe — some of it directly emitted from cars and trucks, some of it resulting from factories and power plants hundreds of miles upwind \u2013 and then can lodge in our lungs and cause a variety of heart and lung problems, especially in children and seniors.<\/p>\n

In fact, soot is one of the deadliest types of air pollution<\/strong>. It can cause heart attacks, asthma attacks, and premature death. Recent studies have found that soot is potentially associated with autism<\/a> as well.<\/p>\n

A letter<\/a> signed by over 650 health and medical professionals stated:<\/p>\n

Fine particulate air pollution is cutting short the lives of tens of thousands of Americans each year. Studies have shown fine particulate air pollution is shortening lives by up to six months …<\/p>\n

Numerous, long-term multi-city studies have shown clear evidence of premature death, cardiovascular and respiratory harm as well as reproductive and developmental harm at contemporary concentrations far below the level of the current standard ..<\/p>\n

Infants, children and teenagers are especially sensitive, as are the elderly, and people with cardiovascular disease, lung disease, or diabetes. The new EPA standards should be set at levels that will protect these sensitive people with an adequate margin of safety, as required by the Clean Air Act.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

States have a variety of tools to meet the updated and strengthened standards. They include:<\/p>\n