Thursday, October 16, 2008

Science Speaks and EPA Listens . . . Sometimes

Today, the EPA announced it was following the advice of its Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee to set standards for lead in air that are 10 times stricter than we have today in order to protect children’s cognitive development. This follows on the heels of the decision by EPA in July to recommend the ban of carbofuran, one of the most toxic pesticides still in use.

Since EPA is being receptive to science click here to send EPA Administrator Johnson a letter calling on EPA to revisit its March decision on ozone standards. EPA ignored the very same committee's recommendation and set standards for ozone that were higher than recommended. According to published research that move is estimated to result in 5,650 unnecessary deaths annually. That’s not to mention the thousands of cases of cardiac events (heart attacks and respiratory illnesses) that could have been prevented.

Clearly, there’s still much work to be done to clean our air; following the scientific recommendations is a good place to begin.