February 13, 2024
HEI acknowledges the decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to lower the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for fine particulate matter air pollution (PM2.5) from 12 µg/m3 (micrograms per cubic meter) to 9 µg/m3. This is the first change in the PM2.5 NAAQS limits since 2012. The EPA has estimated that their decision to lower the limit may prevent as many as 4,500 premature deaths in the U.S., including many from historically marginalized and other vulnerable communities that often face the greatest risks from air pollution exposure.
