Did you know that that air pollution can stunt growing lungs, particularly in children who spend a lot of time outdoors? Exposure to air polluted with nitrogen dioxide, acid vapors and particulate matter (soot) has been found to have the greatest association with impaired lung growth.

The EPA has proposed new Soot Standards, which would decrease the allowable limit of soot in the air from the current 15 micrograms per cubic meter to as low as 11 micrograms per cubic meter.

Would you help tell the EPA that families want the new Soot Standards as soon as possible, with the lowest possible limit on soot, in order to clean up our air?


http://action.momsrising.org/letter/Mercury-CRA_Rollback/?referring_akid=3442.206527.ukfwv-&source=taf

There are more details in the email below.

Thanks!
Judith

***********************FORWARDED EMAIL BELOW*******************
Dear Narissa,

It’s summer. That means moms, dads and other caregivers across the country are ripping electronics out of kids’ hands and telling them to “go out and play!” But tragically, too many parents have to think twice about sending their kids outside because of air pollution. And indeed, studies have shown that air pollution can stunt growing lungs, particularly in children who spend a lot of time outdoors.[1] Exposure to air polluted with nitrogen dioxide, acid vapors and particulate matter (soot) has been found to have the greatest association with impaired lung growth.[2]

Not let kids play outside?? How ridiculous! That’s why we need to clean up the air, and why everyone at MomsRising is excited about the proposed new Soot Standards from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which would decrease the allowable limit of fine particles in the air.

Help us tell the EPA that families want the new Soot Standards as soon as possible, with the lowest possible limit on soot, in order to clean up our air:

http://action.momsrising.org/go/2039?ak_proof=1&t=4&akid=.299560.Y-rnHy&referring_akid=3442.206527.ukfwv-&source=taf

What would the new Soot Standards actually do? These standards would likely tighten the allowable limit of fine particles in the air from an annual average of 15 micrograms per cubic meter to 12 or 13 micrograms per cubic meter. The EPA plans to finalize the Soot Standards by December 14, 2012.

How strong do we want the new Soot Standards? Strong! Public health advocates like the American Lung Association recommend that the EPA set standards for fine particles at the lowest end of its proposed range of options - at 11 micrograms per cubic meter, rather than at 12 or 13.[3]

Who doesn't like the new Soot Standards? Pro-pollution industry lobbyists, who don’t want to see the standards, or industry, changed at all. But the positive health outcomes (depending on what the final standards are) could be worth as much as $5.9 billion! Every dollar spent on pollution controls would bring $30 to $86 dollars in health benefits.[4]

The EPA is now taking public comments that will be used to determine the final standards. Your voice will be critical in this comment process to help drown out the specious arguments of pro-polluters.

Please help the EPA prioritize the needs of moms and families over those of industry by signing our petition urging the EPA to finalize the new Soot Standards as soon as possible, with the lowest possible limit of 11 micrograms per cubic meter in order to clean up our air.

http://action.momsrising.org/go/2039?ak_proof=1&t=6&akid=.299560.Y-rnHy&referring_akid=3442.206527.ukfwv-&source=taf

Summer should always be about playing outdoors! Help us keep it that way and invite a few friends to sign on to the petition too by forwarding this email or sharing the link above on Facebook.

Together we are a powerful voice so our kids can have healthy lungs and clean air to play in!

-- Gloria, Sarah, Claire, Kristin and the whole MomsRising team



[1] Children’s Health Study, University of Southern California, 2000.

[2] IBID.

[3] "More Protective Soot Standard Will Save Lives, Protect Fragile Environments," American Lung Association, June 15, 2012.

[4] "EPA Proposes Clean Air Standards for Harmful Soot Pollution/99 percent of U.S. counties projected to meet proposed standards without any additional actions," EPA June, 15 2012.