UPDATE 1-US strengthens national soot standards, industry objects

The U.S. government on Wednesday strengthened air quality standards for soot for the first time in over a decade, predicting $46 billion in health benefits while industry groups warned the move would harm some local economies. The Environmental Protection Agency lowered the allowable concentration of particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns, or PM 2.5, to 9 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) on average per year, from the current 12 µg/m3 in place since 2012. Soot, or fine particulate matter, comes from sources ranging from power plants to construction sites, to vehicle tailpipes and industrial smokestacks.