US EPA

The draft Particulate Matter Research Program Strategy describes the EPA Office of Research and Developments research strategy in the areas of health, exposure, risk assessment, and risk management research. The scope of the strategy corresponds to the dual responsibility of EPA to review the adequacy of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) every 5 years and to achieve attainment of the NAAQS to protect public health and welfare. The EPA health effects and exposure research supports NAAQS review by providing scientific methods, models, and data needed for assessment of health risks from PM exposures. The EPA research to support implementation of PM standards is focused similarly on improving the methods, models, and data for attainment decisions. This strategy will be used to guide ORDs future PM research, and it also provides the scientific community and the public the opportunity to review and comment on the ORD PM research directions.

The ORD draft PM Strategy encompasses research performed by EPA intramural scientists and engineers, as well as research supported through EPAs Science to Achieve Results (STAR) extramural grants program and cooperative agreements between ORD laboratories and other research institutions. This strategy was reviewed by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) of the EPAs Science Advisory Board in November, 1996. The EPA is at present revising the document to reflect comments received from CASAC and the public.