Five East Tennessee counties around Knoxville failed to meet the new daily standard for fine particulates in the air, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday.

The EPA said Anderson, Blount, Knox, Loudon and Roane counties in and around Knoxville were among 31 U.S. counties that exceeded the standard of 35 micrograms per cubic meter during 2008. The only other Southeastern region that also failed to meet the EPA standard was in Birmingham, Ala.

Chattanooga’s measurements from 2006 to 2008 remained below the new EPA standard, according to Bob Colby of the Chattanooga/Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau. Nationwide, EPA said the levels of fine particulates in the air dropped by 19 percent from 2000 through 2008.

Particulate matter emitted by power plants, factories and motor vehicles can cause a number of serious health problems, including aggravated asthma, heart attacks and even premature death, the EPA said.