U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA.
Environ Manage. 2021 Jun;67(6):1017-1028. doi: 10.1007/s00267-021-01468-9. Epub 2021 Apr 9.
Research and development has been a key part of the foundation for improvements in US air quality since the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 50 years ago. Although the scientific accomplishments and advances over the course of EPA's history are often overshadowed by policy debates, much of the air pollution science and engineering we now consider to be routine did not exist when EPA was established. Many of the advances in air pollutant measurement, monitoring, modeling, and control were developed by EPA researchers or supported by EPA programs. The technical foundation built during EPA's early years has since given the Agency the scientific ability to respond quickly and effectively to unexpected and emerging issues. Equally important, EPA also developed approaches to conducting and presenting science in policy settings to ensure that the science was as objective and complete as possible and was communicated effectively. A look back at some of the accomplishments of EPA scientists and engineers provides a reminder that the cumulative effect of continual, incremental advances can result in large and lasting benefits to society.
研究与开发一直是美国环境保护署（EPA）成立 50 年来改善空气质量的基础的关键部分。尽管 EPA 历史上的科学成就和进步常常被政策争论所掩盖，但我们现在认为是常规的许多空气污染科学和工程在 EPA 成立时并不存在。许多空气污染物测量、监测、建模和控制方面的进展是由 EPA 研究人员开发的，或得到 EPA 计划的支持。EPA 早年建立的技术基础使该机构具备了快速、有效地应对意外和新出现问题的科学能力。同样重要的是，EPA 还制定了在政策制定中进行和呈现科学的方法，以确保科学尽可能客观和完整，并得到有效传达。回顾 EPA 科学家和工程师的一些成就，提醒人们，持续不断的渐进式进步的累积效应可以给社会带来巨大而持久的利益。
