Attorney General Raoul Urges EPA To Adopt Strict Standards To Protect The Public From Particulate Matter Pollution
CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of attorneys general, urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to adopt stringent standards under the Clean Air Act that protect public health against particulate matter (PM) pollution. These standards, known as the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), are critical to efforts to improve air quality and the health of residents disproportionately impacted by higher PM levels. “Particulate matter pollution has been proven to be harmful to human health,” Raoul said. “It is urgent that the EPA establish sufficient guidelines to address the health threat posed by these contaminants, especially for populations that are disproportionately exposed.” Particulate matter is a pollutant emitted from a variety of sources including vehicles, factories and construction sites. Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA is required to set NAAQS for several pollutants, including PM, at a level that protects