Barack Obama tightens air pollution limits

Following Barack Obama's recent victory, the presidential administration has set new air pollution limits.

It has tightened restrictions on soot, which is thought to be one of most deadly forms of air pollution in the United States of America.

Soot is released from power plants, diesel engines, refineries, and other industries, and these businesses will soon be hit with a limit on how much soot they are allowed to produce.

For environmental experts in the country, the news is incredibly welcome.

Indeed, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which is implementing the laws, has published a statement issuing its positive stance on the change.

"These standards are fulfilling the promise of the Clean Air Act. We will save lives and reduce the burden of illness in our communities, and families across the country will benefit from the simple fact of being able to breathe cleaner air," said EPA administrator Lisa P Jackson.

According to Ms Jackson, families from across the country will benefit from the changes.

In the statement, she revealed that her two sons suffer from asthma - a problem caused by air pollution.

The American Lung Association has supported the new laws.

"By setting a more protective standard, the EPA is stating that we as a nation must protect the health of the public by cleaning up even more of this lethal pollutant," it said.

However, there are plenty of people who have contradicted clean air advocates.

The main oil lobby group, the American Petroleum Institute, issued a statement arguing against the restrictions and instead argued that they were unnecessary.

"There is no compelling scientific evidence for the policy decision to develop more stringent standards. The existing standards are working and will continue improving air quality."

Not everywhere in America will need to implement the changes.

According to the EPA statement, fewer than 10 out of America's 3,000 counties will need to implement the changes.

By the end of the decade, soot emissions will be limited to 12 micrograms per cubic metre of air.