NEWS RELEASE
EClean Air Advocates Call on EPA to Strengthen Smog Standards
89,000 Children with Asthma, Governor Ritter, and Many More at Risk as EPA Proposes to Keep Smog at Dangerous Levels
For Immediate Release:
October 9, 2007
For More Information Contact:
Jeremy Nichols, Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action, 303-454-3370
Denver—With children's health squarely at stake and health care costs rising, clean air advocates today called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to listen to its health science advisers and strengthen federal health standards for ozone.
Ozone, the key ingredient of smog, is a corrosive gas that causes asthma attacks and even premature death. Formed when sunlight reacts with pollutants from smokestacks, tailpipes, and oil and gas drilling, it is the most widespread health threat in the Rocky Mountain region. Children, those with asthma, seniors, and active adults are most at risk. The EPA has proposed a new air quality health standard for ozone, but defying its own health science advisers, has proposed a weak standard. "The EPA is proposing to curse our children to a lifetime of smog," said Jeremy Nichols, Director of Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action. "I think we speak for most everyone that the EPA needs to rethink its position and adopt stronger health standards for ozone." According to EPA estimates, for every dollar spent on reducing ozone, society reaps a payback of $8.50 due to increased health. In fact, an ozone standard recommended by EPA advisers would prevent as many as 9,200 premature deaths, 27,000 asthma attacks, and 1,500,000 missed work and school days. The EPA's proposed ozone standard would only prevent 1,200 premature deaths, 16,000 asthma attacks, and 890,000 missed work and school days. In Colorado, around 7.1% of the population suffers from asthma, the second highest prevalence of any state in the nation. They include 89,000 children, as well as Governor Bill Ritter. Every year, asthma costs people Colorado over $300,000,000. Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA is required to set air quality standards based solely on what is needed to protect human health. The current standard was adopted in 1997 and limits ozone to no more than 80 parts per billion over an eight hour period (although due to an outdated rounding scheme, ozone is allowed to rise to 85 parts per billion). Health scientists have found this standard falls short of protecting our health. In an October 2006 letter, the EPA's Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee concluded "There is no scientific justification for retaining the current [ ozone standard]." The Committee recommended a new ozone standard be set between 60-70 parts per billion over an eight hour period. This recommendation was reiterated in April 2007. Since then, the EPA's Children's Health Protection Advisory Committee, hundreds of scientists and doctors, and public health and medical organizations across the country have called on the EPA to adopt an ozone standard of 60 parts per billion over an eight hour period to provide full protection of our health. Defying its scientists, the EPAproposed to set a new ozone standard between 70-75 parts per billion. In comments submitted today, Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action urged the agency to reconsider its position. "The science is overwhelming: The EPA needs to go further to keep our children and our communities safe from smog," said Nichols. "We're looking to the agency to save our life, we cannot afford to err on the side of death."
Long considered only an urban problem, ozone is increasingly rising to unhealthy levels in rural Colorado, largely a result of rampant oil and gas drilling. Between 2004 and 2007, average eight hour ozone concentrations have risen above 60 parts per billion in Rocky Mountain National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, and in rural La Plata County in southwestern Colorado. Additionally, eight hour ozone concentrations throughout the Denver metro area and in Colorado Springs regularly rise above 60 parts per billion. So far in 2007, ozone concentrations in the Denver metro area have risen above 60 parts per billion 865 times among the region's 13 monitors. Denver is struggling just to meet current health standards. With ozone regularly rising above 60 parts per billion throughout the state, the EPA 's proposal shuts the door on clean, safe, and healthy air in Colorado. To keep Colorado safe, Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action is calling on the EPA to adopt an ozone standard of no more than 60 parts per billion over an eight hour period. "We're in the midst of a health crisis here in Colorado. Smog is plaguing the state, health care costs are rising, and sadly the EPA 's proposal will keep it this way," said Nichols. "We can't afford to hold our breath; we need clean air today for tomorrow." (END)
BACK TO NEWS AND ALERTS >>
| 
