By: Ali Simpson, National Field Manager, Moms Clean Air Force
Date: February 21, 2023
About: Environmental Protection Agency Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2015-0072
To: Environmental Protection Agency
My name is Ali Simpson, and I live in Bedford, New York, in Westchester County. I serve as a National Field Manager for Moms Clean Air Force, and I’m a mom of an (almost) two-year-old son. I’m here today to say that the proposed soot rule is a step in the right direction and to ask the EPA to strengthen the final rule. Specifically, I would like to see a more health protective standard of 8 micrograms per cubic meter for the annual standard and 25 micrograms per cubic meter for the daily standard.
I’m deeply concerned about the lack of an updated 24-hour rule. Families who live near power plants, industrial processes, and heavy traffic areas such as highways are subject to increased particle pollution. According to a 2021 study, racial-ethnic minorities in the United States are exposed to disproportionately high levels of ambient fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5), the largest environmental cause of human mortality. This is an environmental justice issue. The current standard of 35 micrograms per cubic meter does not adequately protect those who live near these sources of pollution. 63 million Americans experience unhealthy daily spikes in air quality. The scientific community agrees that a standard of 25 is far more protective, and I urge EPA to make this final rule 25 for the 24-hour standard.
Imagining my son and other kids breathing in soot pollution so small that it goes directly into his bloodstream sends a chill down my spine. Because soot is so small it has the ability to penetrate our lungs and has been found to play a role in causing devastating health impacts including:
- premature death
- heart disease
- aggravated asthma
- decreased lung function
- difficulty breathing
- shorter life expectancies
- greater rates of diabetes
- cancer
- kidney disease
- adverse pregnancy outcomes
As we know, no amount of soot is healthy to breathe, so we must do everything we can to protect human health. In closing, thank you, EPA, for this proposed rule, but please consider strengthening the final rule to 8 micrograms per cubic meter for the annual standard and 25 micrograms per cubic meter for the daily standard. Thank you.