The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently announced a final rule to strengthen the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for fine particle pollution, also known as fine particulate matter (PM2.5) or soot. This rule will affect many sectors of the economy, including manufacturing, as it will require states to implement plans to reduce PM2.5 emissions and improve air quality in areas that do not meet the new standard. Today, we're taking a closer look at the new standard and how it will impact manufacturers.
What is PM2.5?
PM2.5 refers to airborne particles that are less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, which is about 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair. These particles can be emitted from various sources, such as vehicles, power plants, industrial facilities, wildfires, and residential wood burning. They can also form in the atmosphere from chemical reactions of gases such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
PM2.5 can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, causing a range of health problems, such as asthma, bronchitis, heart attacks, strokes, and premature death. According to the EPA, exposure to PM2.5 is linked to more than 100,000 deaths per year in the U.S., and costs the economy billions of dollars in health care and lost productivity.
What is the New Standard and How does it Compare to the Previous One?
The EPA is revising the level of the primary (health-based) annual PM2.5 standard from 12.0 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3) to 9.0 μg/m3, based on scientific evidence that shows the current standard does not protect public health with an adequate margin of safety, as required by the Clean Air Act (CAA). The EPA is also modifying the PM2.5 monitoring network design criteria to include a factor that accounts for proximity of populations at increased risk of PM2.5-related health effects to sources of air pollution.
The new standard is expected to result in significant public health benefits, such as up to 4,500 avoided premature deaths, 800,000 avoided cases of asthma symptoms, and 290,000 avoided lost workdays in 2032. The EPA estimates that the net benefits of the rule could be as high as $46 billion in 2032.
How Does the New Standard Compare to Other Countries?
The new U.S. standard of 9.0 μg/m3 is one of the most stringent in the world, surpassing those of many developed and developing countries. According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), which published its own global air quality guidelines in 2021, only a few countries have adopted or proposed annual PM2.5 standards lower than 10 μg/m3, such as Australia (8 μg/m3), Canada (8.8 μg/m3), Japan (9 μg/m3), Singapore (8 μg/m3), South Africa (10 μg/m3 by 2030), and Sweden (8 μg/m3).
Many other countries have higher annual PM2.5 standards than the U.S., such as the UK (20 μg/m3), Brazil (15 μg/m3), China (35 μg/m3 for commercial zones), India (40 μg/m3), Mexico (12 μg/m3), Russia (10 μg/m3), South Korea (15 μg/m3), Turkey (20 μg/m3), and Vietnam (25 μg/m3). Some countries do not have any annual PM2.5 standards at all, such as Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Ukraine.
Manufacturer Reaction
The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), which represents more than 14,000 manufacturers across all sectors and sizes, has strongly opposed the new standard, calling it a "devastating blow" to U.S. manufacturing and job creation. The NAM argues that the new standard is based on flawed science and ignores the significant progress that manufacturers have made in reducing PM2.5 emissions over the past decades. The NAM also points out that the nation’s air is cleaner than ever, helped by ongoing innovation in the manufacturing sector, and that the new standard will create permit gridlock for most manufacturing sectors, while failing to address the largest sources of PM2.5, such as wildfire smoke.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has also raised concerns over permitting gridlock, arguing that the new rule will make it more prohibitively challenging for businesses to obtain necessary permits for new facilities and infrastructure.
The NAM has urged the EPA to withdraw the rule and maintain the current standard of 12.0 μg/m3, which it says is already protective of public health and consistent with international benchmarks. The NAM has also expressed its intention to challenge the rule in court if necessary.
The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) also strongly opposes the EPA's proposed revisions. The AF&PA argues that the current standard is protective of public health and the environment, and that lowering it would jeopardize American jobs, investment, and economic growth. The AF&PA also warns that the proposed standard could force some businesses to relocate to countries with less stringent air standards.
How Will the New Standard Affect Manufacturers?
The new standard will require states to submit implementation plans to the EPA by February 7, 2026, outlining how they will attain and maintain the new standard by February 7, 2032. The EPA will review and approve or disapprove these plans based on their adequacy and enforceability.
Manufacturers that emit PM2.5 or its precursors may be subject to additional emission limits or control measures under these plans, depending on their location and contribution to air quality problems. The EPA will work with states and tribes to provide technical assistance and guidance on how to comply with the new standard while minimizing costs and maximizing benefits.
The EPA will also support states in implementing the new standard by building on existing national clean air rules and investments that will help reduce PM2.5 emissions from major sources, such as power plants, industrial facilities, and transportation. Some of these rules and investments include:
• The Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule, which establishes emission guidelines for states to develop plans to limit carbon dioxide emissions from existing coal-fired power plants.
• The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Update (CSAPR Update), which reduces interstate transport of ozone and fine particle pollution by requiring 22 states in the eastern U.S. to limit nitrogen oxide emissions from power plants.
• The Cleaner Trucks Initiative (CTI), which aims to establish new emission standards for heavy-duty trucks to reduce nitrogen oxide and other pollutants.
• The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, which provide funding for clean energy projects, electric vehicle infrastructure, public transit systems, and environmental remediation.
How Can Manufacturers Comply with the New PM2.5 Standard?
Manufacturers can take several steps to reduce their PM2.5 emissions and improve their environmental performance, such as:
• Conducting an energy audit to identify opportunities for energy efficiency improvements and cost savings.
• Installing or upgrading pollution control devices, such as scrubbers, filters, or electrostatic precipitators, to capture or remove PM2.5 or its precursors from the exhaust stream.
• Switching to cleaner fuels, such as natural gas, biogas, or renewable energy sources, to reduce combustion emissions.
• Implementing process changes, such as optimizing operating conditions, reducing waste generation, or using alternative raw materials, to reduce PM2.5 or its precursors from the production process.
• Adopting voluntary programs, such as ENERGY STAR, LEED, or ISO 14001, to demonstrate environmental leadership and commitment.
Given the enormity of the new EPA standard change, manufacturers may need to go looking for additional suppliers and services providers to help them comply with the new standards. With more than 460,000 U.S. industrial suppliers and service providers, IndustryNet is a trusted resource for finding the machinery, products, parts and services to help manufacturers stay productive--and compliant. Search, sort and quote today for free.
