New air pollution standards for Houston

Following results which showed that Houston is being contaminated with dangerous levels of air pollution, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced new air pollution standards.

Indeed, the EPA found that Houston has been inundated with huge amounts of fine particle pollution, one of the components of soot, which is highly dangerous.

It is created from the toxins of cars, trucks, factories and power plants.

The pollution is particularly difficult to control as it can travel up to a hundred miles upwind, meaning that even if these factories are placed outside of town, the contamination can still damage inhabitants.

Indeed, the effects of fine particulate pollution are vast.

It can cause respiratory and pulmonary diseases, one of which being asthma.

More serious illnesses can occur from air pollution, including heart attacks and premature death, while recent studies have found an association with autism as well.

The vulnerable need to be extra especially careful, as the older and the younger generation are more susceptible to falling ill thanks to the pollution.

The new standard aims for only 12 micrograms of the fine particulate pollution per cubic meter.

Currently, Houston as a region completely exceeds these standards. It has until 2014 to start making real and effective changes to control the harmful pollutant.

It is hoped that the new standards will protect the most vulnerable, which is estimated to be about half of the general population.

According to the Houston Chronicle, this is the perfect opportunity to make the area far healthier and greener.

"The new standards for fine particulate matter present opportunities for Houston to reduce emissions and bring healthier air to the region. It is crucial that we start working now to protect the health of children and seniors from these harmful emissions," it said.