A unanimous federal appeals court has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to eliminate federal limits on fine particulate pollution, commonly known as soot. The court ruled 3-0 that the EPA’s rollback could not move forward, leaving the current protections in place.
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) comes from sources like vehicle exhaust, power plants, industrial facilities, and wood burning. Because these particles are small enough to reach deep into the lungs (and even enter the bloodstream) decades of research have linked long-term exposure to higher rates of heart disease, respiratory illness, and premature death.
For now, the Clean Air Act’s soot pollution standards remain in effect, preserving protections that help keep the air cleaner for millions of Americans. However, the Trump EPA said it is reviewing the ruling and could seek further review.
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