The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed updated air toxic standards for carcinogenic coke oven emissions that are a step forward for protecting public health. The proposed rule also eliminates the use of startup, shutdown, and malfunction loopholes that allowed releases of unlimited amounts of coke oven emissions without consequence. Coke oven emissions increase the risk of people developing cancers of the lung, kidney, prostate, and more. Chronic exposure to coke oven emissions can also result in pink eye, severe eczema, and lesions in the respiratory and digestive systems. The agency was supposed to update coke oven emissions standards over a decade ago.

Source: The Star August 01, 2023 18:08 UTC