Paniculate matter and human health focus issue

摘要

Three years ago, Environmental Science & Technology's Editor-in-Chief, Jerry Schnoor, wrote an editorial "Carol Browner's Legacy: PM_(2.5)" detailing her decision as EPA administrator to move forward to regulate fine particulate matter, or PM_(2.5) [paniculate matter with a diameter <2.5 μm] in spite of the many uncertainties. That editorial noted that the evidence at that time strongly suggested that she got the fine particulate matter question right, and that millions of people are now benefitting from her actions. Deciding to regulate was just one aspect of the PM_(2.5) issue EPA got right. Another was how they went about dealing with the uncertainties plaguing the issue at that time. EPA dramatically increased PM research funding, and likewise started a program to track and aggressively monitor both PM2.5 mass and composition.