Introducing myself

[Anthony DeLucia <delucia@etsu.edu>]

My name is Anthony (Tony) DeLucia, Ph.D., President-elect of the American Lung Association (ALA).    Through my research on air pollution and the last thirteen years as a volunteer for the ALA, I have benefited immeasurably as an individual through participating in activities related to the mission and scope of EPA.    I am fortunate to have attended campuses of the University of California to accomplish much of my education and research training on the environment, and lo and behold on the environmental side, now to hold professorial rank at East Tennessee State University in the Department of Surgery.    On that campus, I have received substantial support for  my advocacy efforts, no minor contribution to obtain from a regional university with limited resources for community service.   

Working as a public "witness" with the Natural Resources Defense  Council back in the late 70's, I learned a little about EPA and the standard setting process, since some research I had done with Bill Adams at UC Davis pushed the envelope on exercise levels to unmask the adverse effects of ambient ozone on normal individuals.   As some may remember, shortly thereafter the EPA raised the 1 hr. ozone standard by 50%, so my overall recollection  is "oh, well."   

Next I got involved in some EPA-contracted  research on the nature of scientific uncertainty (making probabilistic judgments about  health effects) and  scientific comment on ozone and carbon monoxide health effects.    As it became difficult to fund my exercise studies, I turned my attention to other lung research topics and became more of a casual observer on input gathering, rule making, policy formation, enforcement, etc.   

Subsequently came the opportunity to serve the American Lung Association.   The ALA has been the focus of my passion,  playing out the role of scientist/community advocate while addressing its major health and societal issues related to tobacco,  indoor air, outdoor air, and research on asthma locally, statewide, and nationally.     During my tenure with ALA as a volunteer, the EPA has always received my attention and kudos for the much needed work that the agency is involved in.   During the early part of the Clinton administration I participated in the meeting on environmental justice as a representative of one of just three lung associations in attendance.   There,  I firsthand observed the difficult relationship the agency has in its overall dealings with the laws and policies that impact peoples' fates.   As a follow up, President Clinton soon signed the Executive Order on Environmental Justice to break new ground for the United States in this regard.    I walked away --flew actually-- from that meeting in snow bound Arlington, VA, less naïve about lives impacted through pollution.    Communities in pain and individual expressions of hurt came forward at that meeting, some venting anger directly at Carol Browner, EPA Administrator.    I hope some healing was started at that meeting, as well.

As I have progressed within the American Lung Association, I have been fortunate to see some of the ways the EPA does business.    Of course ALA remains critical of some decisions EPA makes on standards and policy which seem too far removed from proven health concerns.     Of course,  all stakeholders must be heard, but how many lawyers and consultants are too many?.?   We hope our outcry  on the public behalf, such as the gist of our ozone report State of the Air 2001, does not fall on deaf ears within the EPA and other circles of government.   I would like to reinforce this statement on a personal note, since I live in the Southeast, which received a major focus of ALA's recent concern.   Currently, I am privileged to represent ALA on the Agency's Clean Air Act Advisory Committee.  In the upcoming weeks, I  will have the opportunity to address ALA's concerns regarding the fine particulate standards at upcoming EPA hearings in Raleigh, NC.

If I am in the least bit fulfilling the citizen advocate role to be engaged in this ten day dialogue to supplement such activities on the part of ALA, I will be very pleased to take the time to do so.   On behalf of individuals and groups who mean to make a difference in the environmental quality and safety in this country and abroad,  thanks for this wonderful opportunity to participate with EPA in listening, learning, and leading.   BTW, I think the goals, as written are reflective of considerable "wisdom" and may need only minim