The US government has approved new air pollution standards which will seek to establish a limit of 35 micrograms of soot particles per cubic meter of air.

That represents a significant cut in the tolerated level of emissions, down from the current 65 microgram allowance.

The new standards must be met by all states by 2015, although there is the potential for that date to be extended until 2020.

However, the restrictions imposed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have been criticised by electric companies, which have claimed that the regulations are too restrictive and could cost the industry as much as $60 billion per year to comply with them.

Meanwhile, environmental groups have attacked the new rules because the EPA has not sought to lower the levels of annual standards for soot particles, which have remained at the same level since 1997.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd