Stronger air pollution standards in U.S. would have significant public health benefits May 26, 2021 –Reducing certain air pollutants in the U.S. by small amounts would prevent thousands of early deaths each year among elders, according to new research led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The study, which focused on fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3), also found that even when levels of these pollutants met or fell below the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) current National Ambient Air Quality Standards, they were still associated with significant mortality in elders. The authors said the findings raise serious concerns that the country’s current air quality standards do not sufficiently protect public health.