EPA Study Review Links Soot to Early Deaths
After reviewing the studies that influenced its proposed rule to curtail soot emissions, the Environmental Protection Agency has determined there is a "stronger link than ever" between the "tiniest particles" of soot and thousands of premature deaths, the New York Times reports. The 632-page research review examined more than 3,000 studies published since 1997, when the EPA proposed reducing the allowable amount of soot and "smog ingredients" produced mainly by vehicles and powerplants. Current air standards regulate the allowable number of particles that are 10 microns or smaller but do not set "specific limits" on the smallest particles. The proposed rule, however, would set levels for particles less than 2.5 microns across to an average of 15 micrograms per cubic meter measured for three years in a row. As a comparison, a human hair is about 100 microns across. The particles, which include metal and carbon, are able to "penetrate" the lungs and pass into the blood stream. Studies, including some from the EPA's new review, estimate that about 50,000 people die prematurely each year from illnesses linked to soot exposure. While the EPA analysis is still under review and another draft of the report is "likely," the study has "eliminated almost any doubt" that soot poses a "serious health threat," the Times reports. Dr. Lester Grant, director of the EPA's national center for environmental assessment, said, "The bottom line is the studies very substantially confirm the original findings. That goes a long way towards laying to rest the sort of controversy that swirled around those studies."
The Times reports that the Bush administration has yet to indicate how it will use the review when issuing final rules. However, EPA Administrator Christie Whitman has "strongly endorsed" a Clinton administration rule, which the agency is reviewing. While a second round of public comments on the proposed rule won't end until July, the EPA is beginning to draft a recommendation on how to word the rule's "final language." Eventually, the EPA will propose to accept the Clinton rule or modify it. But supporters of "strict [soot] controls" say the public comment periods and industry lawsuits have slowed the process. David Hawkins, a lawyer for the Natural Resources Defense Council, said, "We're already having another scientific review completed before one step has actually been taken to cut the pollution. In the meantime, there are about a quarter million Americans who have died prematurely as result of fine particle exposure." For their part, trade groups are "demanding" a review of the raw data used in completing the studies because any regulation would "likely" cost billions a year, the Times reports. William Kovacs, vice president for environmental, technical and regulatory affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said, "We're going to have to sit down and go over what the EPA is basing its decision on and what other documents are out there" (Revkin, New York Times, 4/21). The EPA review is available at http://www.epa.gov/ncea/partmatt.htm.