Breathe Easy, Bush Smog Standards to Be Reviewed by EPA
WASHINGTON, DC, September 17, 2009 (ENS) – The 2008 national
smog standards adopted by the Bush administration will be
reconsidered to ensure they are “scientifically sound and
protective of human health,” the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency announced Wednesday. “This is one of the most important
protection measures we can take to safeguard our health and our
environment. Smog in the air we breathe can cause difficulty
breathing and aggravate asthma, especially in children,” said
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. “Reconsidering these standards
and ensuring acceptable levels of ground-level ozone could cut
health care costs and make our cities healthier, safer places to
live, work and play.” The Bush standards were weaker than those
recommended by the EPA’s own science advisors, prompting a court
challenge by some of the nation’s largest public health and
conservation groups, including the American Lung Association,
Environmental Defense Fund, Natural