EPA STUDY SHOWS SIGNIFICANT U.S. AIR QUALITY PROGRESS

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that 41 of the 97 U.S. urban areas formerly in "nonattainment" now comply with the standards for ground level ozone. It also said 13 of the 42 areas designated nonattainment for carbon monoxide also are meeting the standards. EPA said that during 1982-91, ambient ozone levels have dropped 8%, lead levels in the atmosphere decreased 89%, sulfur dioxide levels fell 20%, carbon monoxide levels dropped 30%, and nitrogen dioxide ambient levels fell 6%.

Oct. 26, 1992

2 min read

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that 41 of the 97 U.S. urban areas formerly in "nonattainment" now comply with the standards for ground level ozone.

It also said 13 of the 42 areas designated nonattainment for carbon monoxide also are meeting the standards.

EPA said that during 1982-91, ambient ozone levels have dropped 8%, lead levels in the atmosphere decreased 89%, sulfur dioxide levels fell 20%, carbon monoxide levels dropped 30%, and nitrogen dioxide ambient levels fell 6%.

It said estimated exceedances of the 8 hr carbon monoxide standard dropped 90% and exceedances of the ozone standard dropped 38% in the study period.

William Reilly, EPA administrator, said, "These declines in overall emissions translate into real health benefits for Americans." But he said in 1991 more than 86 million Americans still lie in counties with unhealthy air.

EPA said the areas with the highest pollution readings are Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, D. C.

It said, "Part of the improvement in smog and carbon monoxide air pollution shown by the 1991 air quality data is the result of federal limits on gasoline volatility and the replacement of older cars with newer, cleaner ones.

"Meteorology also plays a critical role, because heat and sunlight can exacerbate the smog problem. The (cooler) weather patterns of the past few years have been different from some of those in the late 1980s when smog levels were very high."

API VIEW

The American Petroleum Institute said, "The latest EPA city by city data on ozone verify significant air quality improvement and progress in virtually all cities with ozone smog problems.

"The results demonstrate that measures that areas have taken to improve air quality are making a positive impact, (and) cities can exercise greater flexibility in designing future clean air programs and avoid costly, disruptive steps that are not necessary in light of true air quality measurements."