www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2004-12-14-particle-pollution_x.htm
Particle pollution falls 10% in 4 years By Traci Watson USA Today WASHINGTON The average level of a deadly form of air pollution dropped in the USA from 1999 to 2003 as new pollution controls made strides in b attling the nation's air quality problem, the Environmental Protection A gency said Tuesday. The deadliest form of particulate pollution, the soot emitted by tailpipe s and smokestacks, fell 10% during the four-year period, the EPA reporte d Particulate kills tens of thousands of people each year by triggering heart and lung problems, EPA reports have said. Despite the improvement, many communities still suffer from particulate p ollution far worse than allowed by federal law. The new report says that 62 million people live in counties where particulate levels were higher in 2003 than limits set by the EPA to protect public health. But EPA chief Mike Leavitt said the nation has been making steady strides in improving overall air quality. His agency estimates that fine partic ulate levels are roughly 30% lower now than 25 years ago. "Today's report shows that we are making significant progress in the redu ction of particle pollution," Leavitt said. President Bush nominated him Monday to be the next secretary of Health and Human Services. Particulate dropped significantly in Southern California, the Southeast a nd the Northwest.
Particle pollution respects no city limits) The EPA says one reason for the improvement is a federal program aimed at cleaning up air pollution from power plants. The program was designed t o cut emissions that create acid rain, but it had the extra benefit of c utting the amount of particulate in the air. Particulate pollution consists of tiny droplets and bits of soot emitted by power plants, diesel vehicles and factories. It's often visible as a pale haze that clouds both city skylines and national park vistas. Environmentalist John Stanton warned that there's still a long way to go in fighting the pollution problem, noting that he believes the EPA's mes sage seems to have been politically motivated. "Clearly, this was good news they could tell," said Stanton of the enviro nmental group Clear the Air. "And it was sandwiched between two pieces o f bad news on the same topic," referring to a recent decision by EPA to delay a federal rule relating to power plant cleanup and an EPA announce ment due Friday that will say which counties fail to comply with particu late limits. The Northeast has see n a rise in particulate pollution. And some of the worst problems in 200 3 were in counties including Pittsburgh, Chicago and Fresno, Calif. They and four more California counties all suffered more than 30 days in 200 3 with particulate levels higher than the federal limit. An additional 21 counties had 11 to 30 days of unhealthy particulate poll ution in 2003. The EPA adjusted some of its statistics to account for weather and found that the trend remains d ownward.
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