Ozone pollution is unhealthy and dangerous. It is linked to asthma, heart and lung failure, increased hospital and emergency room admissions, adverse birth outcomes, and even premature death. And it forms when pollutants in the air react with heat and sunlight, so ozone levels climb on hot, sunny days—and in extreme heat exacerbated by climate change.
EPA announced in August 2023 that it would delay strengthening the current ozone standards, putting the health of millions at risk for years to come. This delay is unacceptable. Families and communities living with ozone pollution deserve stronger ozone standards now.
Join Moms in telling EPA not to delay on setting strong ozone standards.
To whom it may concern:
As someone who cares about children's health, I'm deeply disappointed that the Environmental Protection Agency is delaying its work to reconsider the current National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for Ozone.
Earlier this summer, EPA's own independent scientific advisory committee found that the current ozone standard is inadequate to protect public health, specifically citing ozone's harm to children with asthma among the many reasons for strengthening the current standard. For the more than 100 million individuals in the US who are regularly exposed to unhealthy levels of ozone pollution—including nearly 24 million children—this delay means avoidable health harms like asthma attacks, hospital admissions, adverse birth outcomes, and even premature death. These preventable health burdens will fall hardest on already-overburdened communities of color and low-income communities.
EPA is required by the Clean Air Act to review our national ozone standards every five years to ensure that the standards are adequate to protect public health. I ask that you complete the review of the ozone NAAQS by December 31, 2025, as required by law, and strengthen the ozone standards to 55-60 parts per billion.
[Your comment here]
Sincerely,
[Your name here]
