The Environmental Protection Agency made public yesterday its decision to strengthen air quality standards. The move comes for the first time in 30 years and will limit the levels of lead in air, a measure that will help protect the health of the nation’s next generation, today’s children.

Metal smelters, iron and steel foundries and battery makers are the first targeted by the new EPA measures. The level of lead in the air fell abruptly after lead came out of gasoline.

"There are still higher-than-desired levels in many places" said Frank O'Donnell, president of Clean Air Watch. The airborne lead levels will be tightened by 90 percent to 0.15 micrograms of lead per cubic meter (ug/m3) of air, the agency said.

The agency based its decision to strengthen the rules on “more than 6,000 studies since 1990,” said EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson. He added that the levels of airborne lead were reduced to about 97 percent since 1980.

"This action will improve public health, especially for children," said Mr. Johnson.

“America's air is cleaner than a generation ago. With these stronger standards a new generation of Americans is being protected from harmful lead emissions,” he added.

The Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee said that 0.02 micrograms of lead per cubic meter of air would be the desired amount.

About 1,300 tons of lead is emitted into the air each year, the agency said. Lead is a neurotoxin that can obstruct a child's brain development. A child exposed to high level of lead could suffer from lower IQ levels and cardiovascular illness later in life. High levels of lead can also contribute to the global warming process.

The previous rules were set 30 years ago and were 1.5 micrograms of lead per cubic meter of air, but back then, the children’s average blood lead levels were seven times higher than today, according to Environmental Defense Fund health scientist John Balbus.