70 Mayors Write in Support of EPA’s Stricter Ozone Standards

Houston smog

The mayors of 70 US cities stepped forward on Monday in support of President Barack Obama and the EPA’s efforts to institute the strongest possible science-based Clean Air Act protections for ground-level ozone pollution, otherwise known as smog. Made public this week by the mayors of Grand Rapids, Michigan and Salt Lake City, Utah, local leaders from 24 US states released a letter in support of stricter, science-based ground-level ozone regulations.

Many of the signatories reside in states with historically and currently high levels of smog pollution, such as California, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Michigan, Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartland’s administration highlights in a press release.

“Millions of children suffer from asthma in this country, many of them right here in Grand Rapids,” Mayor Heartwell was quoted as saying. “It’s simple – strong smog pollution protections will save lives and prevent asthma attacks, so we stand united in calling for action.”

Sunburn on your lungs

Exposure to smog has been medically proven to cause both immediate acute and chronic long-term respiratory and other medical conditions. More generally, it causes burning eyes, breathing problems and irritates the cardiopulmonary system (the heart and lungs.) The American Lung Association likens breathing smog to getting a sunburn on your lungs that can result in immediate breathing problems, Mayor Heartland’s administration highlights.

Long-term exposure to smog has been linked directly to reproductive and childhood development problems and premature death, as well as asthma, bronchitis, heart attack and other cardiopulmonary afflictions. Children, seniors and those who suffer from asthma are especially vulnerable.

Tropospheric Ozone

A long-term study of ozone’s deleterious effects on human health that covered 450,000 people in the US revealed that those living in major cities with high levels of ground-level ozone levels, such as Houston and Los Angeles, were 30 percent more likely to die from lung disease.

An allotrope of the diatomic oxygen (O2) that fuels all forms of life on Earth, ozone (O3) is produced by exposure of O2 molecules to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun. Human activity results in the production of ozone through the extraction, refining and combustion of fossil fuels. It is also produced by electrical discharges in the atmosphere, and forms both at high and low levels of the atmosphere.

Setting stricter limits on ground-level ozone

Currently, the EPA´s nationwide ground-level ozone standard is intended to limit eight-hour average ozone mole fractions to 85 to 104 nmol/mol (nanomoles per mole, or parts per billion), which is deemed “unhealthy for sensitive groups.¨ Furthermore, 105 nmol/mol to 124 nmol/mol is considered “unhealthy” by the EPA, and 125 nmol/mol to 404 nmol/mol “very unhealthy.”

The Clean Air Act directs the EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone and other pollutants. Under court order, the EPA in May 2008 lowered its ozone standard to 80 nmol/mol.

Even this level was considered too high by the EPA’s own scientists and advisory board, which recommended lowering it to 60 nmol/mol. Public health and environmental groups, such as the Sierra Club, supported the lower standard. Internationally, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) recommends capping ozone concentrations to 51 nmol/mol.

Responding to “extensive recent scientific evidence about the harmful effects of ground-level ozone EPA chifed Gina McCarthy announced the EPA is proposing to reduce the federal NAAQS for ground-level ozone to 65 to 70 parts per billion (ppb) in order ¨to better protect Americans’ health and the environment.” In addition, EPA said it is taking comments on tightening ozone emissions standards further, to 60 ppb.

On March 17 a group of seven leading US public health organizations, including the American Heart Association and American Lung Association, wrote to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy supporting the agency’s proposal.

Commenting on the letter supporting President Obama and the EPA’s efforts to institute stricter limits on ground-level ozone, Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker said:

“Mayors are on the front lines of addressing public health challenges. We know, because we see firsthand that smog is a dangerous and sometimes even deadly air pollutant.”

“Stronger smog protections will help Salt Lake City families and all Americans breathe easier and spend more time outdoors without having to worry about the quality of the air they breathe.”

*Images credit: 1) Houston smog; the Inquistr; 2) Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services

Featured image: Robert S. Donovan, courtesy flickr

Andrew Burger
Andrew Burger
A product of the New York City public school system, Andrew Burger went on to study geology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, work in the wholesale money and capital markets for a major Japanese bank and earn an MBA in finance.

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