EPA Seeks to Revise PM2.5 Daily Standard for Particle Pollution

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced its intention to revise the national daily PM2.5 standard, which sets limits for particle pollution in the air. The proposed change could have implications for millions of Americans who live in areas where such pollution is dense, potentially impacting their health and wellness—not to mention our overall environment and wellbeing as a society. By tightening controls on PM2.5 within certain populated regions of the country, it’s hoped that better protections against dangerous particles can be achieved while still allowing economic growth and development without compromising our citizens' safety or well-being unnecessarily at only a moderate cost to industry stakeholders affected by these new regulation changes over time. This blog post examines this proposed shift from all angles, exploring what led to it, considering its possible consequences (both positive and negative), and ultimately delving into whether we think this change is worth making.