The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will pinpoint 31 areas across the country that are not meeting its daily standards for fine particle air pollution (PM 2.5) or particulate matter.
Particulate matter comes from power plants, factories and motor vehicles and can cause a host of health problems including heart attacks and aggravated asthma.
The areas have been designated as “non-attainment” because their 2006-2008 air quality monitoring data shows they did not meet the agency’s health-based standards. Following a review of recommendations in December 2008, the EPA identified areas based on air quality monitoring from 2005-2007 but these were never published and were placed under review. So, as the 2008 air quality data is the most recent, the EPA has used this to make its final designations.
Using the data, 91 counties that previously missed the standards have now attained the necessary reductions in PM 2.5 levels. However, four new counties in three states have been added to those violating the daily levels.
Affected states and areas will be required to take steps to reduce the pollution that produces these fine particles with the majority of US counties simply needing to continue to maintain their clean air.
For more information, check out the area designations for 2006.
