Declaring that current standards are no longer sufficient to protect public health, the Environmental Protection Agency has proposed strengthening federal rules for one of the world’s most dangerous and pervasive types of air pollution — fine particulate matter.
EPA Administrator Michael Regan announced Friday that the agency intends to further restrict annual concentrations of so-called PM2.5 — microscopic particles that are contained in diesel exhaust, wildfire smoke and other emissions and are known to trigger heart attacks and respiratory illness.
The potential measure, which could be enacted this year following public meetings, could prevent thousands of premature deaths, the agency estimates.
