Tighten particulate limit, EPA advisers say in draft report

Abstract

To protect the health of US residents, the Environmental Protection Agency should ratchet down the limit for airborne particulate matter, a panel of scientific experts says in a draft report . Breathing in particulates that are 2.5 µm or less in diameter (PM 2.5 ) is associated with heart attacks, decreased lung function, asthma attacks, and premature death in people with heart or lung problems. In its draft report, the EPA’s Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee says it concurs with an agency assessment released last year that concludes, “Meaningful risk reductions will result from lowering the annual PM 2.5 standard.” A majority of the panel recommended a limit of 8–10 µg/m 3 of air; the current standard, set in 2012, is 12 µg/m 3 . Under former president Donald J. Trump, the EPA proposed in 2020 to maintain that standard rather than tighten it as agency staff members had recommended.