Meghan Hodges
Non-criteria pollutants are all pollutants that are not classified as criteria air pollutants. Criteria air pollutants are six commonly found air pollutants that are harmful to human health, the environment, and cause property damage. These include particulate matter, ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lead. Non-criteria pollutants include benzene, dioxins, pesticides, and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals, which are considered hazardous substances that can cause cancer, lung damage, and damage to other bodily systems. While some non-criteria pollutants are less prevalent in the environment, they are still dangerous and can be found in the form of gases at atmospheric pressure and ambient temperatures.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | All pollutants not classified as criteria air pollutants |
| Examples | Benzene, dioxins, pesticides, methane, heavy metals, Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) |
| Health Risks | Cancer, lung damage, damage to the nervous, reproductive and immune systems |
| Categories | TOGs (gases at atmospheric pressure and ambient temperatures), VOCs (organic gases), Hydrocarbons (compounds of hydrogen and carbon) |
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What You'll Learn
- Benzene, dioxins, pesticides, and other hazardous substances can cause cancer, lung damage, and nervous system damage
- Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are a category of non-criteria pollutants
- Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, are global pollutants
- Hydrocarbons, such as methane, are non-toxic and non-photoreactive
- Air toxics, such as 1,3-Butadiene, are probable human carcinogens
Benzene, dioxins, pesticides, and other hazardous substances can cause cancer, lung damage, and nervous system damage
Non-criteria pollutants are air pollutants that are not included in the six criteria air pollutants outlined by the Clean Air Act. These six criteria pollutants are:
- Particulate matter
- Ground-level ozone
- Carbon monoxide
- Sulfur dioxide
- Nitrogen dioxide
- Lead
Benzene, dioxins, and pesticides are all non-criteria pollutants.
Benzene
Benzene is a potentially dangerous chemical that can cause both short-term and long-term health effects. Exposure to benzene has been linked to a higher risk of cancer, particularly leukaemia and other cancers of blood cells. Studies have shown that workers exposed to high levels of benzene have higher rates of leukaemia, especially acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Benzene has also been linked to other types of blood-related cancers, such as multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies benzene as "carcinogenic to humans".
In addition to cancer risks, exposure to high doses of benzene can affect the nervous system, causing symptoms such as drowsiness, dizziness, headaches, tremors, confusion, and even unconsciousness. Benzene can also irritate the skin, eyes, throat, and stomach, and in extreme cases, inhaling or swallowing very high levels can be deadly. Long-term exposure to benzene can harm the bone marrow, leading to anaemia and causing feelings of weakness and fatigue.
Dioxins
Dioxins are persistent environmental pollutants (POPs) that are highly toxic. They are found worldwide in the environment, accumulating in the food chain, particularly in the fatty tissue of animals. More than 90% of human exposure to dioxins is through food, especially meat, dairy, fish, and shellfish. Dioxins have been linked to reproductive and developmental issues, immune system damage, hormone interference, and cancer. While normal background exposure is not expected to affect human health, efforts are needed to reduce current exposure levels due to their highly toxic nature.
Pesticides
Pesticides such as organophosphates, carbamates, and organochlorine pesticides directly target nervous tissue as their mechanism of toxicity. Exposure to pesticides has been linked to Parkinson's disease and other central nervous system issues. Studies have found persistent nervous system damage following acute intoxication with certain pesticides, and there are concerns about the potential long-term effects of low-dose, chronic exposure in both adults and children.
Benzene, dioxins, pesticides, and other hazardous substances can indeed cause cancer, lung damage, and nervous system damage. These non-criteria pollutants have serious health impacts, and measures must be taken to minimise exposure and protect public health.
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Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are a category of non-criteria pollutants
Non-criteria pollutants are those that are not classified as criteria air pollutants. They include various hazardous substances that can be a danger to human health, including cancer, lung damage, and damage to the nervous, reproductive, and immune systems.
POPs have been linked to reproductive impairments, and they can accumulate in the body fat of living organisms, becoming more concentrated as they move up the food chain through a process known as "biomagnification." This means that even small releases of POPs can have significant impacts. The majority of POPs are known to disrupt the normal functioning of the endocrine system, and low-level exposure during critical developmental periods can have lasting effects throughout the lifespan of an organism.
The "dirty dozen" POPs identified by the Stockholm Convention include aldrin, chlordane, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, HCB, mirex, toxaphene, PCBs, DDT, dioxins, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Most POPs are pesticides or insecticides, and some are also solvents, pharmaceuticals, and industrial chemicals.
The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, which was adopted in 2001 and entered into force in 2004, is a global treaty aimed at safeguarding human health and the environment from these highly harmful chemicals. The convention seeks to reduce or eliminate the production, use, and release of POPs, recognizing their potential for long-range transport, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification.
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Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, are global pollutants
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the primary greenhouse gas, responsible for about three-quarters of emissions. It is released into the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and oil), solid waste, trees, and other biological materials, as well as certain chemical reactions, such as cement production. CO2 levels have been rising every month and are currently at the highest levels ever recorded. It can remain in the atmosphere for thousands of years, and its concentration has jumped from between 200 and 280 parts per million for most of the past 800,000 years to over 420 parts per million as of 2023. This increase in CO2 concentration has significantly contributed to the enhanced greenhouse effect and global warming.
Other greenhouse gases include methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor, and synthetic fluorinated gases such as hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, chlorofluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and nitrogen trifluoride. These fluorinated gases are emitted from household, commercial, and industrial applications and have global warming potentials (GWPs) thousands of times greater than CO2. They can remain in the atmosphere for hundreds to thousands of years. Methane, while not specifically regulated as a pollutant, is also a potent greenhouse gas, 23 times more effective than carbon dioxide at warming the atmosphere.
To address the issue of greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate their impact on the planet, aggressive global action is required. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), we must halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions by 2050. This involves significantly reducing fossil fuel production and consumption, transitioning to renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, and adopting methods to remove CO2 from the atmosphere, such as planting trees and conserving forests.
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Hydrocarbons, such as methane, are non-toxic and non-photoreactive
Non-criteria pollutants are those that are not classified as criteria air pollutants. While the Clean Air Act does not specifically regulate these pollutants, they can be hazardous to human health and the environment. Non-criteria pollutants include benzene, dioxins, pesticides, Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), and heavy metals.
Hydrocarbons are a group of compounds composed of hydrogen and carbon. They are prevalent in nature and are the basis of petroleum fuels. Methane, a hydrocarbon, is an organic gas that is neither photoreactive nor toxic. This means that it does not react to sunlight to produce ozone, and it is not harmful to human health. Methane is, however, a potent greenhouse gas, with 23 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide.
While methane itself is non-toxic, some hydrocarbons can be toxic. Aromatic compounds such as benzene and toluene are known chronic toxins and carcinogens. Bioremediation of hydrocarbons from soil or water is challenging due to their chemical inertness, but bacteria such as Lutibacterium anuloederans and mycelium and mushrooms can degrade them.
Hydrocarbons such as ethylene, isoprene, and monoterpenes are emitted by living vegetation, and biogenic processes release reactive hydrocarbons such as isoprene and à-pinene, in addition to methane and other organic compounds. Non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) like ethane, ethene, propane, and propene are trace atmospheric constituents that play a role in controlling ozone concentrations. The oceans are a source of NMHCs, and their production mechanisms in seawater are not yet fully understood.
In summary, hydrocarbons such as methane are non-toxic and non-photoreactive, but they can be greenhouse gases and, in some cases, toxic. While methane is not specifically regulated as a pollutant, it contributes significantly to global warming.
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Air toxics, such as 1,3-Butadiene, are probable human carcinogens
Non-criteria pollutants are those that are not classified as criteria air pollutants. They include various hazardous substances that can be dangerous to human health, including cancer, lung damage, and damage to the nervous, reproductive, and immune systems. Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals are two important categories of non-criteria pollutants.
Several human epidemiological studies have shown an increase in cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Animal studies have also shown reproductive and developmental problems. Based on human and animal studies, the EPA has classified 1,3-Butadiene as a known human carcinogen. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) has given it a rating of A2, suspecting it to be a human carcinogen.
Experiments involving chronic exposures to mice and rats have shown a strong causal relationship between 1,3-Butadiene exposure and cancer. In addition, multiple organ site neoplasia was induced in mice after only 13 weeks of exposure. 1,3-Butadiene is also a potent in vivo genotoxic agent to mouse bone marrow cells. Hematologic changes indicative of a partially regenerative anaemia were induced in mice at 62.5 and higher concentrations.
People can reduce their exposure to 1,3-Butadiene by avoiding tobacco smoke.
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Frequently asked questions
Non-criteria pollutants are all pollutants that are not classified as criteria air pollutants. They include benzene, dioxins, pesticides, and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). These pollutants can be hazardous to human health and the environment.
Some examples of non-criteria pollutants include:
- Methane: An organic gas and hydrocarbon that is a greenhouse gas (GHG) with a high global warming potential.
- 1,3-Butadiene: A compound classified as a probable human carcinogen, associated with leukemia and cardiovascular disease.
- VOCs: Volatile organic compounds that react to sunlight to produce ozone.
Non-criteria pollutants can have significant adverse effects on human health. They have been linked to various health risks, including cancer, lung damage, damage to the nervous, reproductive, and immune systems, headaches, dizziness, upper respiratory tract irritation, and nausea.
