EPA Will Reconsider Strengthening Smog Standard to Better Protect Americans’ Health

(Washington, D.C. – October 28, 2021) The Environmental Protection Agency confirmed today that it will reconsider whether to strengthen our national standards for ground-level ozone pollution – commonly called smog.

“People across the country face serious health risks from ground-level ozone pollution, and the scientific evidence is clear that we need a stronger, more protective standard to guard against it,” said EDF analyst Taylor Bacon. “EPA should seize this opportunity to strengthen the ozone standard and protect Americans’ lives and health.”

Ground-level ozone forms through the reaction between heat, sunlight, and certain pollutants. These pollutants (including volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides) mainly come from vehicles, power plants, industrial facilities, and oil and gas pollution.

Ground-level ozone pollution significantly increases the risk of serious heart and lung diseases and causes premature deaths. There is strong evidence of ground-level ozone pollution causing increased hospital admissions and emergency department visits for asthma and respiratory infections and possibly increasing rates of asthma development.

The current national standard for ground-level ozone pollution is 70 parts per billion, which the prior administration chose to maintain despite a substantial and growing body of scientific evidence that shows serious health effects from ground-level ozone exposure at levels below that standard. EPA will now reconsider that decision.

EDF just released an analysis that showed ground-level ozone pollution reached dangerous levels in almost every state over the summer. 45 states had at least one day with levels above 70 parts per billion, and 49 states – all except Hawaii – had at least one day with levels above 60 parts per billion. You can see more of EDF’s analysis here.