Smog decision puts lives at risk

For too long, smog pollution has left our children gasping for breath. Unfortunately, rather than acting decisively to protect our kids from this dangerous air pollution, on Sept. 2 President Obama announced that he will not update critical air quality standards for smog pollution until 2013. This decision was made despite a unanimous recommendation by the independent board of air experts and scientists created under the Clean Air Act to ensure that the standards be sufficiently strong to protect public health.

Exposure to smog triggers asthma attacks, causes permanent lung damage, and can even lead to premature death. In Illinois alone, almost 250,000 children and over 700,000 adults experience asthma attacks every year. Environment Illinois deeply disappointed with Obama’s decision to delay cleaning up smog pollution, and calls on the president and Congress to do more to protect Illinoisans’ health in the coming weeks and months.

Bruce Ratain

Environment Illinois

Chicago