The US environmental protection agency (EPA) is set to be sued by 13 states over its failure to establish what the states consider acceptable air quality standards.

A suit has been filed against the EPA arguing that it should lower the acceptable level for airborne particulate matter to 13 or 14 micrograms per cubic metre of air.

The current standard is 15 micrograms, but the EPA's own evidence has suggested that lowering the measure to 13 micrograms could save as much as 24,000 premature deaths per year.

This case is just one more example of the federal government ignoring sound science in establishing environmental policy and watering down safeguards designed to protect the public," claimed Kathleen McGinty, secretary of Pennsylvania's department of environmental protection.

Meanwhile, the top six automakers in the US are calling on California to drop its lawsuit against them for violating public nuisance laws by producing high emission vehicles.

Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Ford, General Motors (GM) and Chrysler have filed a motion to dismiss the suit, as they look to bring more pressure on the Californian government to drop its action.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd