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U.S. gender wage gap grows for the first time in a decade; Trump has embraced NC's Mark Robinson, calling him 'Martin Luther King on steroids; Volunteers sought as early voting kicks off in MN; Women's political contributions in congressional races fall short of men's.

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Rising threats of political violence, a Federal Reserve rate cut, crypto industry campaign contributions and reproductive rights are shaping today's political landscape.

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A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

Groups Demand EPA Get Tough on ‘Dangerous’ Soot Pollution

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Friday, February 24, 2023   

In Tennessee and across the country, advocacy groups for clean air are asking the Environmental Protection Agency to do more to protect public health by strengthening air-quality standards for soot pollution.

Fine particulate matter, or soot, comes from power plants, vehicles and refineries, and now, the EPA has proposed revisions to its National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

Elizabeth Bechard, senior policy analyst for the group Moms Clean Air Force, said her organization believes everyone has the right to breathe clean air, and the health burdens of soot pollution are immense, and sometimes fatal.

"Around the U.S. as a whole, over 100,000 premature deaths per year, some of those deaths are in Tennessee," Bechard pointed out. "We know that they contribute to increased risk of severe asthma, increase hospitalizations for heart attacks, strokes, and respiratory conditions. They contribute to health impacts like adverse birth outcomes."

Bechard and her colleagues participated in a virtual hearing held by the EPA this week. They are asking the agency to strengthen both the annual standard and daily standard for soot pollution. The public has a chance to comment on the proposal before March 28.

Patrick Drupp, director of climate policy for the Sierra Club, said the EPA proposal would reduce the maximum allowable amount of fine particulate pollution from 12 micrograms to nine or 10. There is a 24-hour standard, which would not be changed, and an annual standard currently set at 35 micrograms per cubic meter of air.

Drupp noted soot is dangerous, and the agency's own the Scientific Advisory Committee has recommended tougher standards.

"The EPA could save up to 20,000 lives per year based on their own science and their own analysis," Drupp contended. "Adopting a more stringent standard, going from the low end of what they proposed of nine to what we're asking for -- of no higher than eight -- can save an additional 4,000 lives."

Drupp added 63 million Americans live in areas with unhealthy spikes of soot pollution, and 20 million live with dangerous levels year-round.

Disclosure: The Sierra Club contributes to our fund for reporting on Climate Change/Air Quality, Energy Policy, Environment, and Environmental Justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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