Story map

Caroline Smith

Prof. Foerstner

Story map:

1st paragraph: Lede. ID the new/strengthened air quality standards for lead. "The revised standards are 10 times tighter than the previous standards and will improve health protection for at-risk groups, especially children." EPA

2nd paragraph: ID the numbers. "EPA has revised the level of the primary (health-based) standard from 1.5 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3), to 0.15 μg/m3, measured as total suspended particles (TSP)." The last time the EPA issued the initial standard of lead in air was 1978.

3rd paragraph: How/why the new standards came about. Who lobbied for the change.

4th paragraph: The effects of lead in air to people's health. How lead effects people. Pull stats from Centers for Disease Control... Talk to doctor...

5th paragraph: The impact of the tighter standards on people's health. "EPA estimates that the revised standards will yield health benefits valued between $3.7 billion and $6.9 billion. The benefits reflect an expected increase in lifetime earnings as a result of avoiding IQ loss." EPA

Questions I'd ask:
-Are the new standards good enough?
-Is lead in the air the biggest cause of lead poisoning or is it rather due to products or old buildings (ie paint)? What measures are being done to clean up and regulate lead from objects (ie toys, houses)?
-How are businesses responding to the new standards?
-How will the government enforce the new standards and how quickly can they be implemented to reach the desired levels?
-Where can you go/who to call to test the level of lead in your child? More information

People I'd talk to:
Representative from the EPA.
A lead-emitting business.
A doctor.
Possibly a family who went to test for lead in their children.