Friday, December 14, 2012
The new rules unveiled today seek to reduce the emission of fine particles linked to strokes, heart attacks, acute asthma attacks, lung disease, and premature deaths.
Shannon Baker-Branstetter, policy counsel for Consumers Union, said, “This is a good move that will save lives and prevent thousands of illnesses a year. There’s been an urgent need for tougher soot standards in order to curb disease and early deaths. This is good news not only for public health. It could also lead to big cost savings in health-care spending and fewer lost-work days.”
Thousands of Consumers Union activists wrote the federal government to call for an improved soot standard to protect public health.