Charlotte, N.C. — CleanAIRE NC strongly opposes the EPA’s decision to weaken America’s protective health standards for soot—a dangerous pollutant linked to asthma attacks, heart disease, lung cancer, and premature death. Dismantling these crucial safeguards will cost thousands of American lives and dramatically increase healthcare burdens on families nationwide.
Soot—also known as fine particulate matter or PM2.5—is our nation’s deadliest air pollutant. The revoked rule, based on extensive scientific evidence, would have lowered the legal limit for soot to 9 µg/m³, preventing an estimated 4,500 premature deaths and 290,000 lost workdays by 2032.
According to the American Lung Association, 63 million Americans experience the short-term effects of soot daily. That’s 17% of the national population.
November 26, 2025
Andrew Whelan
Director of Communication Strategy
(919) 229-9293
[email protected]
And these health burdens are not shared equally. Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), in addition to low-income communities, routinely face the highest levels of soot pollution. Children, seniors, pregnant women, people with underlying medical conditions (e.g. asthma, COPD, heart disease), low-income communities, and outdoor workers are also disproportionately impacted by daily PM2.5 exposure.
Simply put, reducing soot pollution will save lives. North Carolina now faces a critical choice: accept lower standards that endanger our communities or step up as a leader in public health. CleanAIRE NC calls on our state leaders and environmental agencies to fill this regulatory void by enacting stronger, science-based soot standards here at home. We cannot wait for Washington to prioritize our health.
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CleanAIRE NC is a statewide nonprofit organization advocating for the health of all North Carolinians by pursuing equitable and collaborative solutions that address climate change and air pollution. www.cleanAIREnc.org
