The Environmental Protection Agency or EPA, the federal regulator of our air and water, actually has two rule change proposals pending, in order to limit harmful pollution in American air.
One is something experts called the new “soot rule” that sets new annual standards of 9 microns per cubic meter of air for something called PM 2.5, which is the small dangerous particulate caused by things like industrial combustion and wildfires. That rule is set to go into effect by 2032, and it’s basically a done deal.
There’s also another initiative called the “good neighbors rule” that’s aimed at higher-polluting states and their effects on their neighbors downwind.
That rule is based on prior efforts to control ozone pollution and centers around the EPA review of state plans for admissions.
The good neighbors rule, as proposed by the EPA, would call for reducing industrial pollution in 23 states around the country.
But reportedly, Ohio, Indiana and Virginia challenged the plan, and the U.S. Supreme Court blocked its implementation 5 to 4.
Rules and Outcomes
The soot rule is something that the EPA estimates will prevent 800,000 asthma related hospital visits, and 4500 premature deaths each year by 2032, when it is fully in place.
The good neighbors rule would have further reduced those pollution amounts, but time will tell if it’s able to pass through any political roadblocks.
Working for Cleaner Air
What can you do to impact the quality of the air around you in your community?
One approach is to work on activism that will push the ball forward in terms of new regulations and limits on pollution.
Here, you can work with federal agencies and other groups to pass groundbreaking legislation, or address particular issues from single polluters, like a major agribusiness operation or industrial plant near you.
Class action suits have been effective in limiting pollution in some of these cases as well.
But locally, there are other things you can do to practically Improve the quality of the air that you breathe in your home.
Indoor air quality is different than environmental air quality as a whole.
Here, you’re working on the specific environment inside the place where you live. That’s where you can take a practical approach, using air monitors to assess how healthy your indoor air is, and then using air purifiers to improve results.
You can get whole home systems that are better for reducing ambient contaminants in the ductwork and all over your home’s interior.
You can also get standalone machines that are good for cleansing small particles from the air in a particular room or open area. The portable standalone units work best in spaces that don’t have any physical obstacles like walls or partitions beyond that. You can also look at things like square footage ratings and ACH or air changes per hour ratings. The Amaircare 3000 VOC or Austin Air Healthmate Plus are good options for dealing with PM 2.5; or try the Airpura V700 or Allerair Pro5 HD VOC
Get the firepower you need to keep your indoor air clean and breathable. This will help with that part of the equation – what you breathe when you’re inside – and you can keep looking to work on pollution legislation and reform, to improve the air that you breathe outdoors. We’re also looking at how to handle regional wildfires that release a lot of potentially harmful particulates into the atmosphere.
US Air Purifiers LLC™ can help you buy the machines that you need for your home or business space. Let us help to advise you on what to get for a specific space, and what features and controls will be best for your daily or long-term use. Getting the best result and the best intuitive appliance makes a big difference in terms of staying on top of these challenges, and breathing better where you live.