On Dec. 14, 2012, the USEPA finalized an update to the national ambient air quality standard for fine particles (PM-2.5), setting it at 12 micrograms/cubic meter, more stringent than the previous one of 15 µg/m3. PM-2.5 (2.5 µm effective diameter) is particularly problematic in public health as it can bypass our natural defenses against larger PM (dust from fields), and penetrates deep into the lungs. Recent research has linked PM-2.5, derived from more recent sources, such as fuel combustion, to a wide variety of adverse health effects, such as asthma, acute bronchitis, heart attacks, and strokes, particularly among children and the elderly. Thousands of public health studies were used to set the new standard; almost 250,000 public comments were reviewed.
A criteria pollutant, PM-2.5 is measured in monitoring stations across the nation. A new assessment of the areas in or out of attainment with the new standard is shown below.

States with non-attainment areas will need to create and enforce new rules to reduce PM-2.5 emissions, many of which will regulate combustion from fuels, such as diesel, that cause high PM-2.5 emissions. Such areas must meet the new ambient air standard by 2020. The USEPA believes that meeting this standard by 2030 will prevent up to 40,000 premature deaths, 32,000 hospital admissions and 4.7 million days of work lost.

The USEPA also made a change concerning PM that relaxes a previous requirement. For New Source Review (NSR, including PSD), facilities are no longer required to measure condensible PM – gaseous emissions that form liquid or solid PM after release, such as sulfuric acid. The definition of PM in NSR (40 CFR Part 51) was changed to remove inclusion of condensible PM. Thus, it no longer needs to be measured in NSR.

CCES can help you assess your combustion profile and switch to lower emitting fuels, which are also cheaper than fuel oils currently. Marc Karell also offers a graduate level course online on Air Pollution at NY Medical College. See www.nymc.edu to learn more.