After the Bush years, a lot of work lies ahead but glad to see there's some progress happening here. The challenge, as always, will be to monitor the situation and enforce the regulations.
The final target that the Obama administration adopts will have huge implications for the regulations state and local officials will have to set in the coming months to meet the new federal requirements. Power plants and motor vehicles are significant emitters of pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and other chemical compounds, which form ozone when exposed to sunlight, but sources as small as gas lawnmowers could face restrictions depending on what EPA chooses as its ultimate goal.
Smog exposure is linked to an array of heart and respiratory illnesses. It causes burning and inflammation in sensitive tissues, and can harm wilderness areas and farm crops by stunting the growth of trees and plants.
