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%.