Groups working to improve air quality in Appalachia are applauding the Environmental Protection Agency's decision to strengthen ambient air quality standards.

Federal regulations set rules for the number and amount of air pollutants people can be exposed to, nationwide. The amount of fine particulate matter has been set at 12 micrograms per cubic meter as an annual average for the past decade.

Willie Dodson, central Appalachian field coordinator for Appalachian Voices, explained the new rules lower this standard from 12 to nine micrograms per cubic meter. He believes the change will save lives.

"These are communities in Eastern Kentucky that are impacted by 'fugitive' coal mine dust coming off of coal trucks and surface mines," Dodson pointed out. "In Winchester and in Covington, they're impacted by other industries."

So-called "fugitive dust," industrial soot and vehicle exhaust each contain a cocktail of chemicals but they all contribute to levels of fine particulate matter, or PM 2.5, in the air. Through the Upper South and Appalachia Citizen Air Monitoring Project, Kentucky volunteers are using fine particulate matter monitors to track levels in their communities.

Dodson emphasized Appalachian Voices will analyze the local data and produce quarterly reports for each participating community. He added local air monitoring can be used to help ensure the new regulations are being met and fill in gaps in data collection in rural regions lacking EPA air monitors.

"What we're hoping to do is raise a red flag, to compel the EPA to then place one of its air monitors in these sorts of communities," Dodson stressed.

Research shows prolonged exposure to air pollution can aggravate asthma, decrease lung function, worsen respiratory symptoms like irritation of the airways, coughing or difficulty breathing, and cause premature death.

Some sectors have made gains in Minnesota in reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. Progress has been slower for agriculture, but those pursuing solutions feel a breakthrough is near thanks to a redesign of a key farming product.

Ag experts say most fertilizers used by farmers are very carbon intensive because they're made with fossil fuels. However, Minnesota researchers have been leading the charge to phase out those elements by utilizing hydrogen from wind and solar energy in the production process.

If more farmers can take advantage of "green fertilizer", said Margaret Cherne-Hendrick, senior lead for innovation and impact at Fresh Energy, the state could be better positioned to confront troubling data.

"Agriculture accounts for about 21% of the state's greenhouse-gas emissions," she said, "and we're forecasting it's going to be one of the more difficult sectors to decarbonize."

While Minnesota government has made investments in the development of this product, including the University of Minnesota's West Central Research and Outreach Center in Morris, Cherne-Hendrick warned that the outcome of the presidential election could alter the landscape for federal incentives.

Meanwhile, a summit will be held Dec. 10 at the University of Minnesota Morris to discuss the future of this technology. The cleaner ammonia derived from this production can also be used for things such as shipping fuel.

Anne Schwagerl, vice president of the Minnesota Farmers Union, which is hosting the upcoming summit, said that having less-carbon intensive crops such as corn can open up more biofuel markets for farmers. And if more green fertilizer is made locally, it could enhance the presence of cooperatives.

"Minnesota has always been a leader in the cooperative movement," she said, "and this is just another opportunity for farmer ownership and rural community ownership of the things that we produce."

U.S. farmers have called attention to corporate consolidation among fertilizer companies, making prices out of reach for smaller independent operations. Next month's gathering is expected to include feedback about how to scale up the manufacturing of green fertilizer to help combat those market forces.

Utah's Great Salt Lake is shrinking, exposing more of its playa and lifting more potentially harmful dust particles into the air.

A new study seeks to understand the air quality and health impacts of the dust from the drying lake.

Kerry Kelly, associate professor of chemical engineering at Utah State University and the study's co-author, whose team took samples from the Great Salt Lake to assess what's known as the "oxidative potential" of dust particles, explained it gives researchers an indication of how materials within the dust could react with the lining of a person's lungs.

"That is important because more reactive materials and components can lead to inflammation," Kelly pointed out. "Inflammation is a very important process for all kinds of adverse health effects associated with particulate matter."

Kelly noted particulate pollution has been linked to health conditions and complications, from asthma to heart attack, stroke and even premature death. When the Great Salt Lake dust samples were compared to other regional playas, they were found to be more reactive, meaning they have a higher potential for serious health effects. Kelly added the study is the first of its kind and more research is needed to further understand the effects on air quality and public health.

Kelly asserted climate change is not the key driver to the shrinking of the Great Salt Lake. Instead, she explained, water diversions have led to the lake reaching historically low levels.

"We are taking the water, it's not making it to the lake," Kelly observed. "All of us -- residential, and commercial consumers -- we need to do our part but agriculture is about two-thirds of the story, so we're definitely going to have to work on agriculture."

Kelly stressed increasing dust storms are a concern in the Salt Lake Valley, located west of Utah's densely populated Wasatch Front. The research showed four to five dust storms occur in northern Utah every year, which transport metal-contaminated dust. For such situations, Kelly recommended staying inside and using a mask if you must leave the house.

With school in full swing, many Arizona students will take the bus to school.

Earlier this summer, the Environmental Protection Agency awarded $900 million of Clean School Bus Program funding to more than 500 districts across the country, some of which came to Arizona.

Currently, Arizona has secured 155 electric school buses, according to the Electric School Bus Initiative.

Hazel Chandler, Arizona State field organizer with Moms Clean Air Force, said smaller school districts in the state received enough funding to replace half their fleets.

She added that school districts are now looking to alternative avenues to continue transitioning.

"Some of them are using utility money, a lot of them are using bond money," said Chandler. "So they might have gotten a couple, or maybe three of four initially - but then they love them so much, and the families and kids love them so much they just continue to approve them."

Chandler said electric school buses, or ESB's, are game changers for students with asthma as they eliminate tailpipe emissions.

She added that the buses are also quieter, meaning a less chaotic ride for bus drivers and students. Chandler said while the federal government has done its part, more can be done.

She contended states could invest more to ensure ESB's are a top priority.

Brittany Barrett - deputy director with World Resources Institute overseeing their ESB Initiative - said older, polluting buses have disproportionately operated in school districts with more people of color, low-income households, and in rural areas.

But data from the institute show that since 2022, most ESB commitments have been allocated to serve those at higher risk of poorer air quality.

Barrett said limited funding, rebates, and grants are still available - and encourages districts to act.

"There are different ways to deploy buses within their range capacity," said Barrett, "that can ensure that the benefits of this transition happen first to those communities who need it the most."

Kevin Matthews is the head of electrification with First Student, which has committed to electrify 30,000 electric school buses by 2035 - resulting in a reduction of over 1.6 million pounds of greenhouse gases.

Matthews said while ESBs may have a costlier initial price tag, the cost savings are undeniable.

"This is primarily driven by lower cost of fuel," said Matthews. "Lower liquid changes like motor oils, engine cooling, those types of issues. Less wear and tear on brakes. So this is a significant change in that area."




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