Protesters demand stricter smog regulations
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Colin Van Bortel-Buckley of Oakland, a junior at the University of Pittsburgh who has asthma, stands in front of an 18-foot-tall inflatable hand holding an inhaler in Schenley Park on Wednesday to spotlight health risks from coal-fired power plants. -
Evelyn Talbott, a researcher and epidemiologist at the University of Pittsburgh?s Graduate School of Public Health, talks about breathing in ground level ozone, or smog, particularly over 60 part per billion, and the health risk for people in our communities.
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Saying public health depends on it, environmental groups and health care professionals gathered Wednesday at a playground in Schenley Park and urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to quickly adopt strong regulations limiting smog-producing emissions from industry, coal-burning power plants and vehicles.
The news conference, held in front of an 18-foot-tall inflatable hand holding an inhaler, is part of a nationwide initiative by environmental groups and was triggered by the EPA's decision Tuesday to delay adoption of stricter anti-smog rules for the fourth time since President Barack Obama took office.
"The rules are at the Office of Management and Budget for review, giving industry another chance to push back against the tighter regulations," said Randy Francisco of the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign. "Well, we're pushing back publicly saying these rules are important and we don't want to wait any longer."
The delay will have significant health impacts in Allegheny County, where ozone levels can exceed the existing federal standard and where more than 78,000 adults and 25,000 children have asthma, said Evelyn Talbott, a researcher and epidemiologist at the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public Health.
"Breathing in ground-level ozone, or smog -- particularly over 60 part per billion -- poses a significant risk to the health of people in our communities," Ms. Talbott said. "With adverse health impacts such as reduced lung function and increased risk of premature death from heat and lung disease, it is clear that stronger ozone standards are needed to better protect public health."
Ground-level ozone, the primary component of smog, is created when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds chemically mix on hot, sunny days.
In 2008, the Bush administration set the ozone standard at 75 parts per billion, ignoring a federal Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee recommendation that the limit be set between 60 and 70 parts per billion.
First Published July 28, 2011 12:00 am
