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EPA Air Pollution Standards Criticized

March 15, 2008 - For most of us, we all know that smog is a problem. It's like global warming, except that you can tangibly see it. Maybe that's why the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is actually doing something about it. But then again...On the heels of the EPA's announcement they are issuing new standards to reduce smog, environmental groups and scientists are saying the EPA isn't doing enough to protect the environment and the air we breathe.

One of the main points of critique is that the timetable for meeting the new standards is not soon enough. It could very well take decades for some cities to get up to code, so to speak. Especially in cities like Los Angeles, where smog is a daily fact of life, improving the condition of the air won't happen soon enough. Put it this way, haze currently reduces natural visibility from 90 miles to less than 24 miles in the eastern U.S. and from 140 miles to between 33 and 90 miles in the western U.S.

To get a better idea of how dangerous smog and air pollution is, one needs to look at the theoretical benefits of the new standards passed by the EPA. When the new standards are enforced, there will be approximately 1,000 fewer premature deaths per year caused by air pollution. This would also amount to 5,600 fewer breathing related hospital visits every year. And while this certainly is an improvement, non-profit groups like the Association of Clean Air Agencies, say these standards are too weak.

With fossil fuel giants like Edison Electric Institute likely to resist the new regulations (along with the 345 other countries falling short of meeting EPA's clean air standards), it really is up to each and every individual to do their own part. Seriously folks, if you are reading this right now and have not yet changed out at least one light bulb for a compact fluorescent light bulb, now is the time to do so. And by all means, contact your congressional representatives and let them know you demand stricter clean air standards.

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