Georgia metro areas violate new air pollution limits

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is expected this week to identify approximately 34 counties in Georgia that exceed federal health standards for particle pollution, a significant health threat for millions of Georgia residents. This is the first time the agency will set boundaries for areas that violate limits for fine particulate pollution - tiny solids and liquid droplets of acids, chemicals, metals and dust that measure 1/20 the width of a human hair and can penetrate deeply into lung tissue, leading to severe illness and premature death. Particle pollution is released by power plants and other industrial sources, and on-road and off-road vehicles.

The counties that may be identified for failing to meet the new air pollution standards include: Dade; Walker; Catoosa; Floyd; Bartow; Cherokee; Forsyth; Hall; Paulding; Cobb; Fulton; Gwinnett; Barrow; Carroll; Douglas; DeKalb; Rockdale; Walton; Coweta; Fayette; Clayton; Henry; Newton; Spaulding; Jasper; Putnam; Madison; Clarke; Oconee; Harris; Muscogee; Bibb and half the counties of Heard and Monroe.

These "nonattainment" areas will have to meet clean-up requirements by a 2010 deadline under the federal Clean Air Act. Those that fail to meet the deadline risk facing stricter regulations on dirty power plants and other industrial sources, and the loss of highway construction funds.

"This is a wake up call for Georgia to do more to protect the health of its citizens," said David Farren, SELC Senior Attorney. "There is no excuse to delay saving lives and millions of dollars in health costs."

In Georgia, 946 people suffer premature deaths, and over 800 more are hospitalized each year due to particle pollution, according to EPA estimates. In addition, it causes 26,442 asthma attacks each year across the state, 1,369 severe enough to require trips to the emergency room. Achieving the particle pollution standard would save 23,000 lives per year nationwide.

The Southern Environmental Law Center has urged EPA to designate enough counties to allow comprehensive and long-lasting clean-up measure. Georgia, however, recommended that only counties primarily in the Atlanta metro region be identified as having unhealthy air.