This week, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a proposed rule to retain the current National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone of 70 ppb. EPA’s action runs counter to the recommendation of the American Thoracic Society and other medical and public health organizations that recommended a more protective standard of 60 ppb. The ATS and other medical organizations based the recommendation for a more protective standard on several large studies that show adverse health effects, including mortality, from exposure to ozone at levels below the current EPA standard of 70 ppb.
EPA has opened up a 45-day public comment period on the proposed ozone rule. The ATS will submit comments to support a more protective ozone standard of 60 ppb.
