"It is time to strengthen the nation's smog limits to improve the health of millions of people who suffer the ill effects of air pollution, dozens of environmentalists, doctors, asthmatic children and religious leaders told a panel of federal officials Monday at a daylong hearing.

It was the third and final public hearing before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency makes a decision on a long-delayed new health standard for ozone, the invisible gas in smog that harms the lungs and worsens asthma and other chronic respiratory diseases.

The EPA says the current ozone standard of 75 parts per billion is too weak to protect public health. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy has proposed a new standard in the range of 65 ppb to 70 ppb."

Tony Barboza reports for the Los Angeles Times February 2, 2015. [2]