EPA and Particles

Am J Respir Crit Care Med Vol 173. pp 365–369, 2006

AJRCCM is the journal of the American Thoracic Society, which is the medical arm of the American Lung Association. The ALA projects a public health orientation, contrasting the American Cancer Society emphasis on being fat, drinking, smoking and eating potato chips.

Anyway, the lead editorial in the new issue is by Rom and Samet. Unfortunately, no abstract, and therefore no medline access to the text, but, in conclusion of a short summary of the evidence:


In the face of the extensive evidence on PM and health and
the strong mandate of the Clean AirAct for public health protection,
the PM NAAQS proposed by Administrator Johnson appear
lax. Based on the same evidence, the American Thoracic
Society and other health organizations have recommended 12
and 25 ug/m3 for the average annual and 24-h PM2.5 standards,
respectively. The proposed, less stringent standard does not protect
the nation’s health, as required by the Clean Air Act.


Again, the importance of these recomendations for OSH practitioners is their implication for occupational environment, where the 24-h standard is something like 10,000 micrograms.