US to introduce new rules on air pollution
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《英国医生杂志》
The US Environmental Protection Agency is finally introducing the first air quality standard governing fine air particles to make breathing safer for Americans, seven years after it first proposed the changes.
Particulate air pollution causes 100 000 US hospital admissions a year
Credit: AP PHOTO/DAVID ZALUBOWSKI
More than 99 million people—a third of the US population—live in areas with unhealthy levels of 2.5 micron particles in the air, says the agency. The smaller the particles, the easier it is for them to get deep into the lungs. The particles come from vehicle exhausts, industrial sources such as factories and coal burning electrical power plants, locomotives, diesel powered farm and construction equipment, diesel powered ferries and tugboats, and domestic sources such as wood burning stoves and fireplaces.
The agency originally proposed the new standards in 1997, but they were challenged and finally upheld by the Supreme Court in 2001. Industry groups had wanted lower standards; environmental groups wanted higher ones. The new standards are exactly the ones proposed in 1997.
In late June, the agency notified states and tribes—that is, those living in large reservations—that 243 counties did not meet the standards for particles smaller than 2.5 microns. The counties are located in eastern and midwestern states and in California.
However, state governors said that only 141 counties were not in compliance with the standards. The federal agency and the states will discuss the issue, and in November the agency will produce a final list of states with counties that are not in compliance. By 2008 the states must have developed plans for meeting the air quality standard, and they must comply with the standards by 2010 to 2015.
Even partial attainment of goals by 2010 would prevent at least 15 000 premature deaths a year, mainly from heart and lung diseases or complications of these disorders. Agency spokesperson John Millett told the BMJ that particulate matter air pollution caused 75 000 cases of chronic bronchitis each year, 10 000 hospital admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, 20 000 cases of acute bronchitis, hundreds of thousands of cases of aggravated asthma, and 3.1 million days of missed work.
Corrective plans will depend on the source of the particulate matter. Mr Millett said that states might, for example, curb industrial growth, electrify highway truck stops (so that drivers do not need to keep their engines running for heat or air conditioning), or make public transport free on days with high pollution levels to discourage use of private cars.
States will be penalised if they do not submit plans to meet the standard or do not implement them. Penalties might include loss of federal funding for highways.(Janice Hopkins Tanne)
Particulate air pollution causes 100 000 US hospital admissions a year
Credit: AP PHOTO/DAVID ZALUBOWSKI
More than 99 million people—a third of the US population—live in areas with unhealthy levels of 2.5 micron particles in the air, says the agency. The smaller the particles, the easier it is for them to get deep into the lungs. The particles come from vehicle exhausts, industrial sources such as factories and coal burning electrical power plants, locomotives, diesel powered farm and construction equipment, diesel powered ferries and tugboats, and domestic sources such as wood burning stoves and fireplaces.
The agency originally proposed the new standards in 1997, but they were challenged and finally upheld by the Supreme Court in 2001. Industry groups had wanted lower standards; environmental groups wanted higher ones. The new standards are exactly the ones proposed in 1997.
In late June, the agency notified states and tribes—that is, those living in large reservations—that 243 counties did not meet the standards for particles smaller than 2.5 microns. The counties are located in eastern and midwestern states and in California.
However, state governors said that only 141 counties were not in compliance with the standards. The federal agency and the states will discuss the issue, and in November the agency will produce a final list of states with counties that are not in compliance. By 2008 the states must have developed plans for meeting the air quality standard, and they must comply with the standards by 2010 to 2015.
Even partial attainment of goals by 2010 would prevent at least 15 000 premature deaths a year, mainly from heart and lung diseases or complications of these disorders. Agency spokesperson John Millett told the BMJ that particulate matter air pollution caused 75 000 cases of chronic bronchitis each year, 10 000 hospital admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, 20 000 cases of acute bronchitis, hundreds of thousands of cases of aggravated asthma, and 3.1 million days of missed work.
Corrective plans will depend on the source of the particulate matter. Mr Millett said that states might, for example, curb industrial growth, electrify highway truck stops (so that drivers do not need to keep their engines running for heat or air conditioning), or make public transport free on days with high pollution levels to discourage use of private cars.
States will be penalised if they do not submit plans to meet the standard or do not implement them. Penalties might include loss of federal funding for highways.(Janice Hopkins Tanne)