More than 1 in 3 people live in counties with unhealthy air, according to the Lung Association's 2023 "State of the Air" report. Under the Clean Air Act, there are national limits in place on many outdoor air pollutants, including particle pollution and ozone, called the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Updating those limits in accordance with the latest health science, and then implementing and enforcing those stronger standards, is critical for lung health.
The good news is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently strengthened the national standards for particle pollution (also called soot). While we called for even more protective levels than what EPA finalized, these stronger standards will result in real health benefits. A new poll shows that 78% of voters support the stricter standards for particle pollution.
Unfortunately, EPA is delaying its actions on ozone (also called smog) even though the health science shows that much stronger ozone limits would prevent asthma attacks and save lives.
We need your help. Join us in thanking EPA for final soot standards and calling on them to speed up their work to set stronger ozone standards.
Health Professionals: Highlight the Value of Stronger Soot Standards
Health professionals see firsthand the health impacts of air pollution. Through partnership with the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, we asked health professionals to share their stories when calling on EPA to strengthen particulate matter standards.
Additional Information
- Learn more about the health impacts of air pollution and find out the quality of the air you’re breathing, in our "State of the Air" report.
- Learn about our 2023 poll showing that an overwhelming majority of American voters support stronger particle pollution standards.
- Learn more about the Clean Air Act from our factsheet.
- Learn more about the National Ambient Air Quality Standards from our factsheet.
Page last updated: September 10, 2024
