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| PHOTO: Tampa received a failing grade from a recent American Lung Association report card. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons/Lone Star Mike |
The American Lung Association recently gave Tampa a failing grade for its number of unhealthy ozone days. With other Florida cities also witnessing bad air quality, residents are invited to share their concerns with the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
The EPA is debating a tougher limit to as low as 60 parts per billion, instead of the current limit of 75.
At current levels, said American Public Health Association executive director Dr. Georges Benjamin, smog is linked to a number of health problems.
"It exacerbates people with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and it causes not only just these attacks but can cause premature death and other morbidity," said Benjamin. "It's a significant problem, and we can address it by reducing the amount of ozone that's produced."
Some industry leaders say the current standard is effective, but Benjamin said there is solid science showing it isn't strong enough. Written comments can be made to the EPA until March 17.
Pulmonary physician Dr. Dona Upson, an associate professor of medicine at the University of New Mexico, testified at one of the hearings last week. According to Upson, the limit will go a long way in protecting public health.
"The EPA's analysis has shown that setting a standard at 60 parts per billion would prevent up to 7,900 premature deaths, 1.8 million asthma attacks in children and 1.9 million missed school days each year," she said.
According to the American Petroleum Institute, the stronger limit would be expensive. But the American Lung Association's senior vice president for advocacy and education, Paul Billings, said the standards are not set based on cost but on the levels at which this type of air pollution is considered dangerous.
"You want your doctor to tell you what makes you sick, not what it'll cost to cure you," he said. "So, the API is really at the wrong part of the process. Cost and feasibility come into the conversation when we try to meet these standards, what strategies are employed."
The standard has not been updated since 2008, and a final rule is expected by Oct. 1.
The proposal is online at federalregister.gov. The State of the Air report is at stateoftheair.org.
The EPA is debating a tougher limit to as low as 60 parts per billion, instead of the current limit of 75.
At current levels, said American Public Health Association executive director Dr. Georges Benjamin, smog is linked to a number of health problems.
"It exacerbates people with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and it causes not only just these attacks but can cause premature death and other morbidity," said Benjamin. "It's a significant problem, and we can address it by reducing the amount of ozone that's produced."
Some industry leaders say the current standard is effective, but Benjamin said there is solid science showing it isn't strong enough. Written comments can be made to the EPA until March 17.
Pulmonary physician Dr. Dona Upson, an associate professor of medicine at the University of New Mexico, testified at one of the hearings last week. According to Upson, the limit will go a long way in protecting public health.
"The EPA's analysis has shown that setting a standard at 60 parts per billion would prevent up to 7,900 premature deaths, 1.8 million asthma attacks in children and 1.9 million missed school days each year," she said.
According to the American Petroleum Institute, the stronger limit would be expensive. But the American Lung Association's senior vice president for advocacy and education, Paul Billings, said the standards are not set based on cost but on the levels at which this type of air pollution is considered dangerous.
"You want your doctor to tell you what makes you sick, not what it'll cost to cure you," he said. "So, the API is really at the wrong part of the process. Cost and feasibility come into the conversation when we try to meet these standards, what strategies are employed."
The standard has not been updated since 2008, and a final rule is expected by Oct. 1.
The proposal is online at federalregister.gov. The State of the Air report is at stateoftheair.org.
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