The EPA last updated its soot (particulate matter) standards in 2013, and while the EPA has recently proposed strengthening the standard, the proposal it released does not go nearly far enough and fails to meet the recommendations of the agency’s own scientific advisory panel.
We need to commit to reducing other harmful pollutants, especially for those disproportionately exposed in communities of color and low wealth communities. Exposure to particulate matter pollution causes a range of health issues, such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, infant mortality, asthma, etc.
As the EPA’s own analysis points out, the EPA can only reduce disparities in soot exposure if it chooses to adopt a more stringent standard than what it is currently proposing to adopt.
That is why the EPA must adopt a series of power and industrial regulations that target hazardous air pollution affecting our most vulnerable communities. This comes in the form of setting strong standards on the transportation sector that are in line with all new vehicles being zero emissions by 2035, and finalizing strong standards to reduce methane pollution from the oil and gas sector.
Adopting the most stringent standards could save thousands of lives over the next decade. For people of color, mortality reductions are almost doubled with the most stringent standards.
Strengthening soot standards will improve air quality in every part of the country, and will start to address historic inequities and injustices in communities suffering from cumulative exposure to multiple pollutants.
Tim Hayes lives in Dublin Borough.
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