We Can All Agree: Smog Standards Need Strengthened

Last October, clean air scientists issued a scathing criticism of a draft Environmental Protection Agency recommendation to keep federal health standards for smog, also known as ozone, unchanged.

Yesterday, staff of the Environmental Protection Agency issued their final recommendation and, heeding the advice of clean air scientists, recommended strengthening smog standards.

Current smog standards, which were set in 1997, limit 8-hour concentrations of ozone to no more than 80 parts per billion. However, for an actual "violation" of that standard to occur, the three year average of the fourth highest maximum ozone concentration cannot exceed 84 parts per billion. This disconnect highlights a fundamental flaw with the current standard: that it fails to protect human health.

What's more, studies since 1997 have found that even at levels below 80 parts per billion, ozone still harms children, those with asthma, and seniors. These impacts are so conclusive, that the state of California adopted a standard limiting ozone to no more than 70 parts per billion.

Scientists last October recommending strengthening smog standards to as low as 60 parts per billion and the latest recommendation from the Environmental Protection Agency agrees with the scientists.

Smog levels in Denver regulary climb above 70 parts per billion in the summer, a sure sign that all is not well with our air. Fortunately, all signs indicate that our air is on track to get cleaner here in Denver.