More than 100 million individuals in the US are regularly exposed to unhealthy levels of ozone pollution—including nearly 24 million children. Families and communities living with daily ozone pollution deserve the strongest possible ozone standards. Ozone’s health burdens are preventable and avoidable.
This year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed an unprecedented number of strong air and climate pollution standards: for mercury, methane, soot, petrochemical, power plant, and tailpipe pollution. Together, these standards could significantly slash the greenhouse gas pollution warming our planet. This would reduce ozone too.
Ground-level ozone pollution, also commonly known as smog, is formed in the atmosphere when certain chemicals combine with heat and sunlight. Power plants, vehicle exhaust, and chemical solvents can all be sources of smog-forming chemicals, including nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Moms has been working to ensure the strongest possible standards for air pollution since its inception, frequently providing testimony pushing for stronger ozone standards. Many of our staff have shared personal stories in an effort to urge EPA to adopt the strongest standards possible.
- Our Colorado field organizer Laurie Anderson has asked EPA to consider the science on ground-level ozone and strengthen the national standards for this dangerous pollutant in order to protect public health. She shared: “The community that I represent is located just east of the Front Range in Colorado, where air quality is an issue as we struggle with background ozone, as well as ozone and pollution from heavy industrial operations, which are intensified by air-inversions along our mountain range. If individuals living in communities that are meeting the current 70 ppb ozone standard are experiencing negative health impacts, what about families like mine who are living in communities that have been designated by the EPA as seriously out of attainment for ozone?”
- Our senior policy analyst Elizabeth Bechard has also testified asking for stronger limits, saying: “Exposure to air pollution containing NOx and ozone during pregnancy is associated with adverse birth outcomes, like low birth weight, preterm birth, and stillbirth. A 2017 study estimates that in the US, 8,000 stillbirths per year may be attributable to chronic ozone exposure. As the mother of twins who were born prematurely and were low birth weight, and as someone who has experienced pregnancy loss twice, I can say from personal experience that adverse birth outcomes can be devastating for families. It is heartbreaking to know that air pollution contributes to this.”
EPA regulates smog, or ground-level ozone, directly under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, or NAAQS (rhymes with “snacks”). These standards are supposed to be updated every five years. In August 2023, EPA announced that they would initiate a new review of ozone, instead of using their authority to adopt a more health-protective standard now.
Undertaking a new scientific review of ozone is a lengthy process that will postpone the adoption of new standards until the end of 2025. This delay will put the health of millions at risk for years to come.
We’ve created a new fact sheet, OZONE POLLUTION 101, as we work to demand EPA adopt new standards without delay. The fact sheet is meant to help parents and caregivers learn more about where ozone occurs (anywhere), how far it can travel (far and wide), and why hot, sunny days are highest in ozone. We also go over the health impacts of ozone and how it’s specifically an environmental justice concern.
Families across the country can join Moms Clean Air Force and our members to advocate for cleaner air for our children and our communities. A solid place to start is by signing our petition asking EPA to finalize strong pollution protections ASAP.