As an allergist-immunologist, I listen to and look at the lungs of patients every day, including people with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other lung diseases. While I can prescribe medications and recommend lifestyle changes to improve their symptoms, sometimes the air outside can make their symptoms worse.

This is why I am asking Pittsburgh residents to join me in urging the Environmental Protection Agency to strengthen the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particle pollution.

Air pollution, and specifically particle pollution, can have major health impacts. Particle pollution refers to a mix of tiny solid and liquid particles in the air and comes from many sources, including factories, power plants, and diesel- and gasoline-powered motor vehicles and equipment.

Particle pollution can be deadly. Exposure can cause worsened asthma and COPD, heart attacks, strokes, heart disease, and congestive heart failure, and lung cancer; increase risk of low birth weight or infant mortality and impaired lung function in children; and even shorten your life.

The EPA is currently taking comments on its proposal to update its particle pollution standards. While an update to the particle pollution standards is greatly needed, unfortunately, the proposal is inadequate to protect public health from this deadly pollutant. I encourage all Pittsburgh residents and members of the medical community to join me by signing the petition at Lung.org/stronger-standards.

Dr. Deborah Gentile

Johnstown

The writer is on the American Lung Association Local Leadership Board and is medical director of Community Partners in Asthma Care.

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