Fine-Particle pollution is linked to a variety of significant health problems. Based on a review of the latest science available, EPA revised the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for fine particulate matter on December 18, 2006. EPA strengthened the 24-hour fine particle standard from 65 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³) to 35 µg/m³, and retained the current annual fine particle standard at 15 µg/m³.
In December of 2008, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated areas throughout the US as “nonattainment” and “unclassifiable/attainment” for the 24-hour national air quality standards for fine particulate matter (PM2.5). After EPA sets a new National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) or revises and existing NAAQS, EPA formally identifies or “designates” areas as unclassifiable/attainment (meeting the standard or expected to be meeting the standard despite a lack of monitoring data), nonattainment (not meeting the standard), or unclassifiable (insufficient data to classify).
On December 18th 2008, EPA designated the Wapato Hills Puyallup River Valley (Tacoma) area as nonattainment for the 24-hour PM2.5 standard. The Puyallup Reservation is included in the boundary on the nonattainment area.
Meeting these air quality standards is very important to protect public health and the environment. Fine-particle pollution is a complex mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets. When inhaled, they can reach the deepest regions of the lungs and cause serious health problems, including aggravated asthma, chronic bronchitis, reduced lung function, irregular heartbeat, heart attack and premature death in people with heart or lung disease. Fine-particle pollution is also the main cause of visibility impairment in our cities and our treasured national parks.
The Puyallup Tribe of Indians is part of a cooperative effort among the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, The State of Washington Department of Ecology and the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency to produce a Performance Agreement to bring the Tacoma area into attainment for fine particulate matter (PM2.5), thereby improving the health and welfare of the citizens of the Puget sound area.
To find out what you can do to clean the air please visit the following websites:
- www.epa.gov/air/actions/
- www.pscleanair.org/actions/default.aspx
- www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=resources.whatyoucando
- www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/outdoor_woodsmoke/alternativestoburn.htm
