Source: Associated Press,, 6/22/09
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to strengthen a key air pollution health standard to better protect children and people with respiratory illnesses. The proposal would tighten the acceptable limits of nitrogen dioxide, a pollutant that is released from motor vehicles, coal burning power plants and factories, for the first time in 35 years.
Nitrogen dioxide can cause respiratory problems and is of special danger to children and people suffering from lung disease. Exposure to nitrogen dioxide often occur close to heavily traveled roadways and can lead to increased emergency room visits, hospitals admissions and respiratory illnesses, particularly in children, the elderly and asthmatics.
The proposal would maintain the current long-term concentration limits (53 parts per million when measured over a year), but establish a new standard based on one-hour monitoring. This limit would be set between 80 ppm and 100 ppm to provide added protection from short-term exposure.
EPA said it will accept public comment over the next 60 days on its nitrogen dioxide proposal and also plans to hold several hearings. It said it anticipates a final rule to be issued by January.
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