North Carolina metro areas violate new air pollution limits

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is expected this week to identify approximately eight counties in North Carolina that exceed federal health standards for particle pollution, a significant health threat for millions of North Carolina 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 as well as on-road and off-road vehicles.

Stokes, Forsyth, Guilford, Davidson, Randolph and Catawba counties, as well as parts of Burke and Caldwell counties are likely to be identified as failing to meet the new air pollution standards. These "nonattainment" areas will face clean-up requirements and must meet a 2010 cleanup deadline under the federal Clean Air Act.

"This is a wake up call for North Carolina 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 North Carolina, 1,133 people suffer premature deaths, and over 1,013 more are hospitalized each year due to particle pollution, according to EPA estimates. In addition, it causes 27,418 asthma attacks each year across the state, 1,338 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 measures. North Carolina, however, recommended that only Davidson and part of Catawba counties be designated as having unhealthy air.