44 | February 2023
L
ast month, the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) pro-
posed new standards for par-
ticle pollution for the first time
since 2012. This rulemaking will have a
huge impact on public health—and you
have the chance to make your voice
heard. Here's what you need to know:
First, what is particle
pollution?
Fine particle pollution consists of tiny
particles in the air. Less than 2.5 microns
in diameter, these small particles are
also commonly referred to as "PM2.5"
or "soot." They're bad for our health.
Where does it come from?
PM2.5 comes from burning fossil fuels
(power plants, combustion engines,
industrial processes, wood, wildfires).
Other sources include agriculture and
driving (e.g., tire friction on roadways).
How does it impact our
health?
PM2.5 is a global killer, responsible
for millions of deaths around the world
each year and tens of thousands of
deaths in the US.
It also affects our health in other
ways, contributing to problems like
asthma, respiratory disease, heart
attacks, strokes, low birth weight,
preterm birth, cognitive issues, and
mental health impacts.
Who is most impacted?
The health impacts of PM2.5 aren't dis-
tributed evenly. Breathing tiny particles
is especially harmful for children, older
adults, pregnant women, and people
with underlying health problems.
Communities of color and low-in-
come communities are more likely to
be exposed to this form of pollution
and bear a disproportionate burden of
the health harms of PM2.5. It's an is-
sue of environmental justice.
So, where does EPA come in?
EPA sets standards for common air
pollutants that affect our health, includ-
ing PM2.5 These are called the Na-
tional Ambient Air Quality Standards,
or NAAQS (rhymes with "snacks").
In proposing NAAQS for PM2.5,
EPA relies on scientific guidance from
the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Com-
mittee (CASAC).
What Is the New Particle Pollution Rule?
By Elizabeth Bechard
What Is the New Particle Pollution Rule?
By Elizabeth Bechard
