EPA releases new life-saving soot standards

Published December 17, 2012 in Health

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Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency released its long-awaited updated standards for fine particulate matter, better known as soot.

The new annual standard will be 12 micrograms per cubic meter, which will save thousands of lives threatened by soot-related health problems. Specifically, soot is known to cause or exacerbate heart attacks, strokes, asthma attacks, and bronchitis, and it’s a risk factor for diabetes.

People with those underlying health problems, children, and the elderly face a higher risk from soot pollution.  

EDF was among the many health and environmental groups applauding the life-saving new standards.

See more:

• From our Climate411 blog: EPA Updates Standards to Reduce Levels of Deadly Soot Pollution in Our Air