- ISHN GLOBAL - EHS RESEARCH On December 14th the EPA finalized
a rule updating the standards for fine particulates, including
soot, setting the annual health standard to 12 micrograms per
cubic meter, down from the current level of 15. EPA’s proposed
rule issued in June, 2012 generated more than 230,000 public
comments. Here is EPA’s statement issued when the final rule was
published: In response to a court order, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) today finalized an update to its
national air quality standards for harmful fine particle
pollution (PM2.5), including soot, setting the annual health
standard at 12 micrograms per cubic meter. Today's announcement
has no effect on the existing daily standard for fine particles
or the existing daily standard for coarse particles (PM10, which
includes dust from farms and other sources), both of which
remain unchanged. A federal court ruling required EPA to update
the standard based on best available science. The standard,
which was proposed in June and