The Bush Administration has left the American people vulnerable to death and disease by allowing dangerously high levels of soot pollution in the air.Every five years the EPA must review and update regulations on various pollutants. This year, the EPA's own scientific panel identified soot pollution as a serious threat to American lives and well-being. Lethal soot particles are released from power-plants, trucks and ships. These particles have been identified as a source for thousands of premature deaths, asthma attacks, heart attacks and other health problems.The new EPA rules have done nothing to further protect Americans from the steady flow of harmful pollution spewed into the air that we breath every day. "This was a decision based on political science rather than real science,'' said Frank O'Donnell, president of Clean Air Watch. "We're terribly disappointed that EPA has chosen to disregard its own science advisers. The results will leave millions of Americans unprotected from the dangers of particle soot.''Dozens of health groups -- including the American Medical Association, American Lung Association, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society and American Academy of Pediatrics -- had urged the agency to set tougher standards for short-term and long-term exposure to particle pollution.While many hope that political pressure and a change in Congressional leadership will produce better Federal protections in the future, it is clear that we are on our own for now.We must limit our driving, our use of electricity and the use of petroleum diesel engines.We must use energy efficient appliances and light bulbs.We must do our best to keep the air in our homes, schools and businesses clean by using air purifiers.
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