At Least One of our Lungs Might be Safe

It's time to recap from a busy (and hot) end of last week and weekend.

Last Thursday, the EPA held it's dog and pony show announcing its proposal to "strengthen" health standards for ozone from 0.080 parts per million (that's 80 parts per billion) to somewhere between 0.070-0.075 parts per million.

True, if the EPA's proposal is finalized, it would represent a major step forward for our health. But why just take a step when we can make leaps and bounds? The EPA's own scientists, numerous public health organizations, doctors, researchers, and even the state of Colorado recognize that there are health effects from ozone at levels as low as 0.060 parts per million.

Is the EPA really keeping us safe when it only goes "halfway" to keeping us safe from ozone? Should we just rest assured that at least one of our lungs is safe from smog here in Denver?

In a bizarre move, the EPA is also asking for "comment" on the validity of keeping the current ozone standard of 0.080 parts per million. From our standpoint, this is just bait; it's meant to sidetrack health and environmental advocates into overlooking the fact that the agency could do much better. Really, from a legal standpoint, the EPA itself has nailed the coffin shut on keeping the current standard by claiming that a 0.070 parts per million standard is needed to protect our health.

Despite this, the EPA seems to have snagged some folks in its trap.

In the meantime, Denver endured record temperatures over the weekend and ozone soared. On Saturday, ozone levels reached 78 parts per billion. Even by EPA standards, this is unhealthy. This really drives home the fact that those of us in the Denver metro area stand to benefit tremendously from a new and stronger ozone standard.

And through all of this, industry is fretting and no, it's not because they're worried their pollution may be harming our health.

Finally, to cap things off with a breath of fresh air, the Denver Post weighed in today on the side of our health. Here's an excerpt:

It won't be easy for places like the Front Range to meet stringent new ozone standards. But the health and well-being of Coloradans is worth the effort.

Well, that's it for now, time to get going on a new week. But be careful out there, there is an ozone alert for today.