"A new smog standard that President Obama withdrew last fall would save thousands of lives each year if implemented, particularly in the Los Angeles region, New York City and Chicago, according to a new study led by Johns Hopkins University scientists."
"Last September, Environmental Protection Administrator Lisa Jackson was about to announce a new ozone standard, expected to be set at 70 parts per billion, when Obama stepped in to stop it because of economic concerns. The 70 ppb standard would save up to 4,130 lives annually -- 67 percent more lives than the existing standard, according to the study. In addition, millions of cases of asthma attacks and other acute respiratory problems would be avoided yearly, as well as millions of days of missed school. Cleaning up ozone, the lung-irritating main ingredient of smog, is costly, since it means new controls on cars and trucks, consumer products, industries and small businesses. EPA officials estimated that achieving the 70 ppb standard would cost between $19 billion and $25 billion per year."
Marla Cone reports for Environmental Health News July 20, 2012.
