EPA strengthens N02 air quality standard
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010
For the first time in 35 years, the EPA will be updating the national air quality standard concerning nitrogen dioxide, or N02. The change in the standard is intended to improve air quality and reduce health risks for millions of Americans that result from automotive and other forms of nitrogen dioxide pollution.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s latest report, the new one-hour standard for N02 exposure is intended to reduce the risks associated with peak short-term exposures that are often found nearby major roadways. The EPA says that this short-term exposure is responsible for respiratory complications such as asthma and increased chance of [respiratory] infections.
“This new one-hour standard is designed to protect the air we breathe and reduce health threats for millions of Americans. For the first time ever, we are working to prevent short-term exposures in high risk NO2 zones like urban communities and areas near roadways,” said EPA administrator Lisa P. Jackson.
“Improving air quality is a top priority for this EPA. We’re moving into the clean, sustainable economy of the 21st century, defined by expanded innovation, stronger pollution standards and healthier communities,” said Jackson.
The new standard is 100 parts per billion (ppb) of N02. The EPA says it is also retaining the current national average standard of 53 ppb. The EPA has not said how it intends to maintain or enforce the new standard once testing has been established.
In order to determine the N02 levels the EPA is creating a new monitoring system and requirements in urban areas. Roadways located in cities with more than 500,000 inhabitants will be required to be tested. For communities with one million or more residents, there will be community-wide monitoring efforts. In all, the EPA hopes to monitor 40 new locations across the country.
The EPA has said that it will begin to identify areas that do not meet the new standard based on the existing data and testing by January 2012. The EPA intends to have the new monitoring system operational by January 1, 2013 – from there the EPA will need three years to collect data before it will designate new areas as meeting or failing to meet the new standard.
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