Act now to reduce birth defects, infant deaths, asthma and stroke

We’ve all heard of carbon monoxide poisoning.  But were you aware that carbon monoxide, lethal at high doses, is commonly found in the air across much of the United States?

When inhaled, carbon monoxide interferes with oxygen use in the blood.  That severely affects organs such as the heart and brain, making carbon monoxide particularly dangerous to fetuses, infants, and people with pre-existing heart conditions.

The Environmental Protection Agency has set the allowable standard for ambient concentrations of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere.  That standard is, however, designed to protect adult males.  PSR is concerned it is not stringent enough to protect vulnerable populations. We call on the EPA to adjust the carbon monoxide exposure standard, lowering the short-term (1-hour) standard from 35 to 5-8 parts per million (ppm) and lowering the current 8-hour CO NAAQS standard from 9 ppm to a range of 3-4 ppm.

The EPA does not propose to lower the carbon monoxide ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) in the proposed rule, and in fact dismisses critical evidence that CO is damaging the health of fetuses, newborns and children at levels far below the current standard. PSR calls on the EPA to set a carbon monoxide standard that safeguards the health of fetuses and children, who are most at risk but who have no voice in the rulemaking process.

PSR will submit formal written comments to the EPA, presenting evidence that lowering the carbon monoxide standard is vital to shield the most vulnerable from potentially lethal organ damage.  We urge you to join us.  Please add your signature to our comments. 

Your voice will help underline the importance of an air quality standard that protects all of us, not some of us.