Bad news: EPA Air Chief Aaron Szabo wants to roll back soot pollution standards finalized under the Biden administration as soon as possible. He’s announced a target date of February 2026. That’s fast.
Soot pollution—also called particle pollution or PM2.5—is one of the most dangerous forms of air pollution. It’s responsible for millions of deaths each year. Produced when fossil fuels are burned for energy, soot spews from coal-fired power plants, industrial facilities, and vehicle engines. The current soot pollution standards under attack apply only to sources that can be controlled, like power plants and industrial facilities. But it’s also a major component of wildfire smoke, which is increasing in frequency and severity as our planet warms.
What makes soot so deadly is its size. These microscopic particles are 30 times thinner than a human hair, small enough to bypass the body’s defenses, slip deep into the lungs, and even enter the bloodstream. Exposure can trigger asthma attacks, respiratory illness, strokes, heart disease, and even premature death. For children, the risks are especially high because their lungs and bodies are still developing.
Tell Congress: Defend EPA’s Ability to Protect Human Health and the Environment
“Soot is especially dangerous for children for a number of reasons—their little lungs are still developing, and the consequences of exposure to air pollution like soot can last a lifetime,” says Moms’ Public Health Manager Elizabeth Bechard. “Children breathe faster and take in more air per pound of body weight compared to adults, so they inhale a disproportionate amount of air pollution. They also tend to spend more time outdoors, meaning that they’re more likely to be exposed to sources of outdoor air pollution.”
Beyond a direct assault on soot pollution standards, other recent efforts by EPA to dismantle pollution controls could leave families even more vulnerable, allowing power plants to pollute without limits. It’s a one-two punch. While soot’s invisible threat is deadly, parents and caregivers are not powerless.
“One of the most important ways families can protect their children and other vulnerable groups from soot pollution is by advocating for strong air quality standards,” Elizabeth says. “With air quality protections under attack in multiple ways, it’s vital that parents use their voices to let lawmakers know that all children deserve to breathe clean, healthy air. Parents can also protect their kids by paying attention to the air quality and taking steps to reduce children’s exposure to unhealthy air, such as limiting time outside on days of poor air quality.”
Here are four Moms’ resources to help parents and caregivers better understand soot—and how to protect families from its dangers.
1. Soot Pollution and Your Health
In addition to exploring soot’s considerable health impacts to children and babies, this resource looks at how economically disadvantaged communities and communities of color are especially vulnerable. These families, as well as those living near highways, power plants, and industrial sites, bear the heaviest burden from soot pollution. Older adults, outdoor workers, and people with chronic conditions are also at greater risk.
2. 24 Hours of Soot
Short-term spikes in soot pollution can be deadly. Even a single day of high exposure can increase the risks of premature death, severe asthma attacks in children, and long-term trauma for families. This fact sheet explains why daily air quality standards matter and why to push EPA for stronger protections.
3. How Air Pollution Harms Pregnant People
In this fact sheet we explain how pregnant people and their babies face outsize risks from soot and other pollutants. Exposure in the womb can lead to low birth weight, premature birth, asthma, high blood pressure, and developmental delays in children. Protecting moms from soot pollution means protecting children before they even take their first breath.
4. Life Before the Clean Air Act (VIDEO)
Before the Clean Air Act, U.S. cities were drowning in pollution. This video shows how rivers caught fire, skies turned black, and deadly smog events killed hundreds. The bipartisan Clean Air Act, enforced by EPA, transformed our air quality and saved countless lives. But these protections are now under threat many years later, making it newly critical to defend them for the sake of our children’s health.
How families can stay safe
There are simple steps anyone can take right now to protect children:
- Check AirNow.gov before planning outdoor play, sports, or exercise.
- To learn the unique risks in your community, check out the American Lung Association’s annual State of the Air Report.
- Use air purifiers indoors to reduce soot exposure at home.
- Have N95 masks on hand for wildfire smoke or high-pollution days.
- Join Moms Clean Air Force and other advocates in demanding EPA do its job and not roll back the very clean air protections they should be strengthening.
Tell Congress: Defend EPA’s Ability to Protect Human Health and the Environment