ADVISORY/EPA and the American Lung Association of Georgia Join Forces in Recognition of World Asthma Day.

News/Assignment Editors

ADVISORY...for Thursday (May 3)

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 1, 2001

The United States Environmental Protection Agency in conjunction with the American Lung Association of Georgia will sponsor a program in recognition of "World ASthma Day."

The event will be held on May 3rd in the atrium of Atlanta City Hall at 10:00 a.m. Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell has been invited to speak along with Winston Smith, Regional Director of EPA's Air, Pesticides and Toxic Management Division in Atlanta and Chuck White, Director/CEO of American Lung Association of Georgia. The Mayor will also sign a proclamation declaring May 3rd as "World Asthma Day in Atlanta." The theme for this year's recognition ceremony is "Joining Together Against Asthma." This theme was chosen in recognition of the need for people with asthma to have access to timely diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and education to help control their condition.

EPA's strategy is to take a preventive approach to asthma based on the reduction and control of indoor environmental pollutants known to cause or trigger asthma. This strategy focuses on populations disproportionately affected by asthma and those at most risk to have asthma, namely children and low-income populations. EPA's proposed asthma goal is to reduce exposure to indoor air pollutants that trigger asthma attacks for 1 million children and 200,000 low-income adults with asthma. The overall goal is to reduce exposure for 2.5 million asthmatics.

WHO:    U.S. EPA, AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION-GEORGIA CHAPTER,
        CITY OF ATLANTA OFFICIALS, PUBLIC HEALTH SCHOOLS,
        PHYSICIANS AND THE PUBLIC

WHAT:   WORLD ASTHMA DAY PROGRAM
        PROCLAMATION SIGNING DECLARING MAY 3RD AS
        "WORLD ASTHMA DAY IN ATLANTA"

WHEN:   THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2001
        10:00 A.M.

WHERE:  ATLANTA CITY HALL-ATRIUM
        55 TRINITY AVENUE, SW
        ATLANTA, GEORGIA