{"id":3026,"date":"2022-06-22T18:01:01","date_gmt":"2022-06-22T18:01:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/global-clean-air\/?p=3026"},"modified":"2022-06-22T18:01:01","modified_gmt":"2022-06-22T18:01:01","slug":"stronger-national-fine-particle-air-pollution-standards-will-provide-significant-health-benefits-and-reduce-disparities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/global-clean-air\/2022\/06\/22\/stronger-national-fine-particle-air-pollution-standards-will-provide-significant-health-benefits-and-reduce-disparities\/","title":{"rendered":"Stronger national fine particle air pollution standards will provide significant health benefits and reduce disparities"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>This blog is co-authored by Taylor Bacon, Analyst, US Clean Air and Climate; Maria Harris, Senior Scientist; and Mindi DePaola, Program Manager, Office of the Chief Scientist.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a href=\"\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/95\/files\/2023\/03\/Updated-IEc-PM-NAAQS-Analysis-20230321.pdf\">A new EDF report<\/a> finds that strengthening federal protections for fine particle air pollution (PM<sub>2.5<\/sub>) to 8 \u00b5g\/m<sup>3<\/sup> will have large health benefits and reduce air pollution-related health disparities in Black, Hispanic and low-income communities across the United States. That\u2019s because these communities bear the brunt of harm from the nation\u2019s most pervasive and deadly air pollutant.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The report comes as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, under President Biden, is reviewing the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for fine particle pollution (PM<sub>2.5<\/sub>). The agency is expected to propose a new standard this summer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Wide disparities in exposure and health effects of air pollution<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The analysis by Industrial Economics, Inc. finds that in 2015, PM<sub>2.5<\/sub> resulted in 120,000 premature deaths and 75,000 respiratory emergency room visits. Children and older adults are particularly vulnerable.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Disparities in exposure and resulting health outcomes were substantial across the U.S.:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Black, Asian and Hispanic Americans had greater likelihood (84%, 58%, and 113% higher, respectively) than others of living in neighborhoods where air pollution levels were above 10 \u00b5g\/m<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><sup>3<\/sup><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Black Americans over age 65 were three times more likely to die from exposure to particulate matter than others.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">People of color were six times more likely to visit the emergency room for air pollution-triggered childhood asthma than white people.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For decades, communities of color and low wealth have been targeted for environmental hazards that others did not want: power plants, landfills, shipping ports, freeways and factories. The resulting inequities in pollution exposure are further aggravated by longstanding discriminatory disinvestment, poor housing, limited health care, educational and economic opportunities perpetuating <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/health.gov\/healthypeople\/priority-areas\/social-determinants-health\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">health disparities<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, intergenerational poverty and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ehp.niehs.nih.gov\/doi\/10.1289\/EHP9001\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">higher vulnerability to health impacts of air pollution<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The report shines a light on what communities exposed to particle pollution everyday already know: they&#8217;re surrounded by pollution sources that are harming their health and shortening lives.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>EPA can set protective standards which will provide health benefits and reduce disparities<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In 2020, the Trump administration retained the existing standard for PM<sub>2.5<\/sub> of 12 \u00b5g\/m<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><sup>3<\/sup><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, ignoring a large and growing body of scientific evidence indicating that this standard was not adequate to protect public health. Environmental and health groups petitioned EPA to reconsider this decision, and in the fall of 2021, EPA launched a review of the PM<sub>2.5<\/sub> standards. As part of this review, EPA took stock of the new science since the last review and considered the policy implications of this new research. In their <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/system\/files\/documents\/2022-05\/Final%20Policy%20Assessment%20for%20the%20Reconsideration%20of%20the%20PM%20NAAQS_May2022_0.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">policy assessment<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, EPA found strong evidence that the current annual standard of 12 \u00b5g\/m<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><sup>3<\/sup><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> does not adequately protect human health and considered alternate standards between 8 and 11 ug\/m<sup>3<\/sup>. The Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC), a panel of independent scientists convened to advise EPA, recommended a range of 8-10 \u00b5g\/m<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><sup>3<\/sup><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> for the annual standard.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/95\/files\/2022\/05\/Analysis-of-PM2.5-Related-Health-Burdens-Under-Current-and-Alternative-NAAQS.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">EDF\u2019s report<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> builds on EPA\u2019s analysis of racial and ethnic disparities in pollution exposure and health impacts under the current and alternative standards, and it supplements EPA\u2019s policy assessment by addressing some of the suggestions made by CASAC for future reviews, including greater attention to risk disparities, expanding the geographic scope of the analysis and considering current PM<sub>2.5<\/sub> levels in estimating the benefit of alternative standards.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The report supports both EPA\u2019s and CASAC\u2019s conclusions that the current standard is not adequate to protect health and finds significantly larger benefits of an 8 \u03bcg\/m<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><sup>3<\/sup><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> annual standard over 10 \u03bcg\/m<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><sup>3<\/sup><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nationally, a standard of 8 \u00b5g\/m<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><sup>3<\/sup><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> would have 3.5 times greater health benefits than a standard of 10 \u00b5g\/m<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><sup>3<\/sup> <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(16,000 premature deaths and 10,000 respiratory emergency room visits avoided at 8 \u00b5g\/m<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><sup>3<\/sup> <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">vs. 4,600 premature deaths and 3,000 respiratory emergency room visits avoided at 10 \u00b5g\/m<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><sup>3<\/sup><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A standard of 8 \u00b5g\/m<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><sup>3<\/sup> <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">would go further to reduce inequities in the health burden of air pollution than a standard of 10 \u00b5g\/m<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><sup>3<\/sup><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, particularly between Black and white populations. People experiencing poverty would see 30% higher benefits in terms of reduced mortality compared to higher income communities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3035 size-large\" src=\"\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/95\/files\/2022\/06\/Mortality-burden-1-1024x294.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"920\" height=\"264\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/global-clean-air\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/134\/files\/Mortality-burden-1-1024x294.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/global-clean-air\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/134\/files\/Mortality-burden-1-300x86.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/global-clean-air\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/134\/files\/Mortality-burden-1-768x221.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/global-clean-air\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/134\/files\/Mortality-burden-1.png 1047w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 920px) 100vw, 920px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As seen in the figure above, even with strengthened standards, substantial disparities in the health impact of particulate pollution would persist. It is essential that EPA also takes complementary actions that directly tackle environmental injustice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Fine scale data offers insights on disparities<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In their policy analysis of alternative standards, EPA utilized regulatory monitor data and modeling at a scale of 12 km<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><sup>2<\/sup><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to determine exposures to air pollution and benefits of alternate standards in 47 major metropolitan areas. However, outside of cities, there are few regulatory monitors and limited modeling to provide air quality information.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">To better understand current PM<sub>2.5<\/sub> exposures and potential health benefits of a stronger pollution limit for every community, we utilized fine scale satellite, land use and emissions-based data that offer a clearer picture of air pollution. We found significant health impacts of PM<sub>2.5<\/sub> not reflected in EPA\u2019s analysis of 47 metro areas: PM<sub>2.5<\/sub> causes an additional 83,000 premature deaths and 49,000 emergency room visits for respiratory diseases. Black people and people experiencing poverty bear a higher burden of air pollution health impacts with similar disparities in both urban and rural areas.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nearly 40 percent of the lives saved from a stronger standard of 8\u00b5g\/m<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><sup>3<\/sup><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> are outside of the areas evaluated by EPA. Critically, our report finds that communities outside of EPA\u2019s analysis would see limited annual benefits of an alternative standard of 10 \u00b5g\/m<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><sup>3<\/sup><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u2013420 lives saved\u2013but significant benefits of a standard of 8\u00b5g\/m<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><sup>3<\/sup><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u20135,800 lives saved.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3034 size-large\" src=\"\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/95\/files\/2022\/06\/Distribution-of-health-benefits-1-1024x449.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"920\" height=\"403\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/global-clean-air\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/134\/files\/Distribution-of-health-benefits-1-1024x449.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/global-clean-air\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/134\/files\/Distribution-of-health-benefits-1-300x132.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/global-clean-air\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/134\/files\/Distribution-of-health-benefits-1-768x337.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/global-clean-air\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/134\/files\/Distribution-of-health-benefits-1.png 1218w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 920px) 100vw, 920px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The pollution data forming the basis of this analysis have been evaluated using monitoring data, and thus in areas where there is limited monitoring there is lower certainty in the levels estimated (like large areas outside of those evaluated by the EPA). This makes clear the implications of blind spots in air pollution monitoring. Our report indicates a substantial health burden of air pollution in these areas and large benefits from a strong standard of 8\u00b5g\/m<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><sup>3<\/sup><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. This can, however, only be validated and enforced by expansion of regulatory monitoring in these areas.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>We have an opportunity to act now<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">EPA is expected to propose a new standard this summer and will take comments from the public at that time. It is imperative that the proposed standard reflects both EPA\u2019s and the Biden administration\u2019s commitment to environmental justice in that it adequately protects the people at greatest risk. This report shows that strengthening the National Annual Ambient Air Quality Standard for PM<sub>2.5<\/sub> from 12\u00b5g\/m<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><sup>3<\/sup><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to 8\u00b5g\/m<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><sup>3<\/sup><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> would go the furthest towards reducing this disproportionate burden of air pollution and is a critical immediate step.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em>Editor&#8217;s note: This blog was updated on March 23, 2023 to reflect findings from an <a href=\"\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/95\/files\/2023\/03\/Updated-IEc-PM-NAAQS-Analysis-20230321.pdf\">updated version<\/a> of the original analysis.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This blog is co-authored by Taylor Bacon, Analyst, US Clean Air and Climate; Maria Harris, Senior Scientist; and Mindi DePaola, Program Manager, Office of the Chief Scientist. A new EDF report finds that strengthening federal protections for fine particle air pollution (PM2.5) to 8 \u00b5g\/m3 will have large health benefits and reduce air pollution-related health &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":125866,"featured_media":3030,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,10,11,12,24,29],"tags":[],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-3026","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic","category-environmental-justice","category-government-official-policymaker","category-health","category-public-health-environmental-official","category-usa"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/global-clean-air\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3026","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/global-clean-air\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/global-clean-air\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/global-clean-air\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/125866"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/global-clean-air\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3026"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/global-clean-air\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3026\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/global-clean-air\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3030"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/global-clean-air\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3026"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/global-clean-air\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3026"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/global-clean-air\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3026"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/global-clean-air\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=3026"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}