” — including carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen oxides, ground-level ozone, particulate matter and sulfur oxides — that must be maintained within permissible levels. The EPA is also authorized under the 1970 Clean Air Act to regulate the emissions of hazardous pollutants. But actual implementation falls primarily to states and federal territories. As we saw with states’ pandemic responses, this inherently produces fragmented strategies with weak oversight and varying quality of safeguards.
The fragmented approach also forces individuals to rely on stop-gap measures during crises. Last week’s major public health messaging on the East Coast was for folks to stay indoors. Those with that option can purchase portable air filters for as little as $250 with less than $10 in monthly energy bills, or useoptions popularized during the pandemic that are constructed from box fans, filters and other hardware store materials.