But research is continuing to pile up in support of the claim that not only are currentairpollution regulations inadequate, but that airpollution is very much a public health issue.
These arguments center largely around the idea that currentairpollution regulation is good enough as-is, and that any further restrictions are aimed at tackling environmental issues and climate change, both typically seen as luxuries in a down economy.
Prof Kevin McConway, a statistician at the Open University said, based on the findings, if Newcastle were to halve its current particulate airpollution level it would lead to two or three fewer low weight babies out of the total 3, 500 or so born in the city each year.
The study was actually conducted in and reported on airpollution in Boston, but it pointed out that air quality levels even below current standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency still pose risks to people who breathe particulate airpollution.