There is scientific consensus that current levels of ozone (also known as smog) can cause serious damage to our health. Scientists, public health groups, and environmental organizations are urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to adopt a tougher clean air standard.  

And since smog is likely to get worse because of climate change, the need for a stronger standard is urgent.

Even relatively low levels of smog can cause serious health impacts, including:

• Asthma attacks
• Permanent lung damage
• Heart attacks
• Worsening chronic lung diseases like emphysema and chronic bronchitis
• Early death

 A stricter smog standard set at 60 parts per billion would protect an additional 106 million people compared to the current inadequate standard (75 parts per billion). It would also help Tiamy, a mother from Ohio whose daughters have asthma attacks so frequently that emergency responders know their names.

What you can do:

Right now, EPA is reviewing the existing air quality standard for smog and is likely to impose a stricter standard this fall. But a previous EPA effort to strengthen the standard was disrupted due to industry influence, and industry is again waging a massive campaign pressuring EPA not to change the current inadequate standard.

Please urge the agency to follow the advice of its Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee and public health, public interest, and environmental organizations and set the revised smog standard at the 60 parts per billion level that scientists tell us is necessary to ensure clean air for all Americans.