Air Pollution

The Clean Air Act requires EPA to develop a "national ambient air quality standards for six common air pollutants. They are normally found (also known as the "pollutants") pollutants in the United States. They are particulate pollution (often referred to as the 'particles'), ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, oxides of sulphur, oxides of nitrogen and lead. These pollutants may adversely affect health and the environment and cause property damage. Six pollutants, particle pollution and ozone at the ground level is the most widespread threats to health. EPA calls these criteria air pollutants because it governs to develop criteria based on human health and/or the environment (Science-based guidelines) to specify the permitted levels. Limits of group based on human health is called the basic criteria. Another set of limits to prevent an environmental and property damage is called secondary standards.

Click on one of the pollutants below for more information on the sources of pollutants, why worry, pollutants and health, impacts on the environmental and efforts to help reduce pollutants and other useful resources.

Ozone

Particle

Carbon monoxide

Oxides of nitrogen (NOx)

Sulphur dioxide

Lead

Trends of air pollution

For each of these pollutants, EPA tracks two types of air pollution: air concentrations derived from the actual measurements of the concentrations of pollutants in the ambient (outside) at monitoring sites selected across the country, and emissions based on engineering estimates of total tons of pollutants released to the atmosphere each year. Despite the progress made in the last 30 years, millions of people live in counties with data from the monitor showing an unhealthy for an air or more of six common air pollutants. Evaluation of trends in air pollution for these six pollutants, the last of the environmental protection agency, click on the following text:

Information about the health effects

Exposure to these pollutants with numerous effects on human health, including an increase of respiratory symptoms and hospitalization for heart or lung disease and premature death.

The environmental protection agency must designate areas as meeting (achievement) or non-fulfillment standard (nonatinmint). Demands of the Clean Air Act (CAA) States develop an overall plan to achieve and maintain Knox in all regions of the country and to develop a specific plan to meet the standards for each zone set nonatinmint Knox. These plans, called plans for implementation of State or SIPs, are developed by State and local quality management organizations air and subject to EPA for approval. Detailed information about State SIP elements and development of the page state implementation and information.