“This is an ironic way to celebrate EPA’s 40th anniversary,” said Dean E. Schraufnagel, MD, who is also a professor of medicine and pathology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. “This is the third time this year that the EPA has requested a delay. Meanwhile, ozone is a major contributor to death and sickness, particularly among the elderly and children.”
According to Dr. Schraufnagel, research shows that issuing a stricter ozone rule will prevent over 8,000 deaths, 6,000 emergency room visits, 5,000 hospitalizations and 3.9 million missed school days each year.
In announcing the delay, the EPA has requested the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC), an EPA convened panel of health experts, to review the existing scientific data to provide further guidance.
Ozone, commonly known as smog, is air pollutant that causes adverse health effects, and continued exposure can result in exacerbations in patients with COPD and asthma, emergency room visits, hospitalizations and premature death. According to the EPA’s own Web site, people with lung disease, children, older adults, and people who are active can be affected when ozone levels are unhealthy.
Numerous scientific studies have linked ground-level ozone exposure to a variety of problems, including airway irritation, breathing difficulties, aggravation of asthma and increased susceptibility to respiratory illnesses like pneumonia and bronchitis and even permanent lung damage with repeated exposures.
“The CASAC has already reviewed the data twice--once during the Bush Administration and once during the Obama Administration,” said Dr. Schraufnagel. “Both times CASAC has recommended issuing a stricter standard. The time for review is over. It’s time to make a decision.”
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