Kiera Jefferson
The Clean Air Act requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for six common air pollutants known as criteria air pollutants. These pollutants are particulate matter, ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lead. These pollutants are harmful to human health and the environment and can cause property damage. The EPA sets standards or limits for these pollutants based on scientific information regarding their effects on health and the environment. These standards are then used to develop plans to attain and maintain air quality goals, and states are required to implement these plans to ensure compliance with the set standards. While the Clean Air Act focuses on criteria pollutants, other harmful pollutants, such as greenhouse gases and air toxics, are also a concern and may be addressed through different regulatory frameworks or guidelines, such as the WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pollutants covered under the Clean Air Act | Particulate matter, ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lead |
| Pollutants not covered under the Clean Air Act | TOGs, VOCs, hydrocarbons, 1,3-Butadiene, formaldehyde, benzene, fluorinated refrigerants, black carbon, ultrafine particles |
| Health effects of pollutants covered under the Clean Air Act | Damage to respiratory and cardiovascular systems, adverse effects on asthmatics, adverse effects on children and the elderly, decreased visibility, damage to animals, crops, vegetation and buildings |
| Health effects of pollutants not covered under the Clean Air Act | Headaches, dizziness, upper respiratory tract irritation, nausea, cancer, cardiovascular disease, lung and airway cancer, blood disorders, impaired fertility, adverse effects on animal fetuses, premature mortality |
| Environmental effects of pollutants covered under the Clean Air Act | Harm to the environment, property damage |
| Environmental effects of pollutants not covered under the Clean Air Act | Damage to trees and plants, reduced farm yields, regional environmental disruption, accelerated glacier melting |
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What You'll Learn
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
Standards refer to the maximum amount of a pollutant averaged over a specified period that can be present in the air without causing harm to health and the environment.
The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1970 require the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set primary and secondary NAAQS for six principal pollutants, or "'criteria pollutants'", that are common in outdoor air and are considered harmful to public health and the environment. These pollutants are particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, carbon monoxide, and lead.
The primary standards aim to protect public health, including sensitive populations such as asthmatics, children, and the elderly. The secondary standards aim to protect public welfare, including soils, water, crops, vegetation, animals, wildlife, property, transportation, and the economy.
The EPA reviews the NAAQS periodically, approximately every five years, to determine if changes are warranted based on the latest scientific information. The review process involves three documents: the Integrated Science Assessment (ISA), the Risk and Exposure Assessment (REA), and the Policy Assessment (PA). These documents are peer-reviewed by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) and are used to support the retention or revision of the existing NAAQS. The final NAAQS are published in the Federal Register.
Areas that do not meet the NAAQS standards are designated as "nonattainment" and must develop plans to attain and maintain the standards. States that fail to reach attainment by the target date may face penalties, including the withholding of federal highway funds.
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Primary and secondary standards
The Clean Air Act requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for six common air pollutants, also known as "criteria" air pollutants. These pollutants are found all over the United States and include particulate matter, ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lead. These pollutants are harmful to public health and the environment and cause property damage.
The Clean Air Act identifies two types of NAAQS: primary standards and secondary standards. Primary standards are designed to protect public health, including sensitive populations such as asthmatics, children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory diseases. These standards provide an adequate margin of safety for those who are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of air pollution.
Secondary standards, on the other hand, focus on public welfare protection. They aim to safeguard against decreased visibility, damage to animals, crops, vegetation, and buildings, as well as transportation hazards, economic values, and personal comfort and well-being. These standards address the broader societal and environmental impacts of air pollution beyond direct health consequences.
To ensure compliance with the set standards, the EPA designates areas as meeting (attainment) or not meeting (nonattainment) the NAAQS. States that are designated as nonattainment are required to develop State Implementation Plans (SIPs) that outline the steps necessary to achieve and maintain the required air quality standards. These plans are submitted to the EPA for approval and are periodically reviewed and revised to incorporate new scientific knowledge and guidelines.
The EPA also establishes specific standards for individual pollutants, such as carbon monoxide (CO). The primary standard for CO is set at a certain ppm averaged over an 8-hour and 1-hour period, while the secondary standard was removed due to a lack of significant evidence of adverse environmental impacts. The EPA continues to strengthen monitoring requirements for CO by strategically placing monitors near large urban areas to effectively assess and manage CO emissions.
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Particulate matter
The Clean Air Act requires the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for six common air pollutants, also known as "criteria" air pollutants. These pollutants are particulate matter, ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lead.
For regulatory purposes, particles are defined by their diameter. Those with a diameter of 10 microns or less (PM10) are inhalable into the lungs and can induce adverse health effects. Fine particulate matter is defined as particles that are 2.5 microns or less in diameter (PM2.5). PM2.5 comprises a portion of PM10, and often the two derive from different emission sources and have different chemical compositions. Of the six criteria pollutants, PM2.5 is associated with the greatest adverse health effects related to air pollution in the US and worldwide. Short-term exposures to PM10 have been associated with the worsening of respiratory diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Long-term exposure to PM2.5 has been linked to premature death, particularly in people with chronic heart or lung diseases, and reduced lung function growth in children. Other health effects of particulate matter exposure include wheezing and coughing, shortness of breath, asthma attacks, worsening COPD, lung cancer, susceptibility to infections, heart attacks and strokes, impaired cognitive functioning, metabolic disorders, and preterm births and low birth weight.
The EPA has proposed strengthening the NAAQS for fine particle pollution, with health professionals advocating for stricter limits to protect vulnerable populations. They suggest an annual standard of no higher than 8 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) and a 24-hour standard of no higher than 25 µg/m3. However, these limits are not strong enough according to some experts, who argue that there is no safe level of particulate matter for health.
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Ground-level ozone
Ozone is a gas composed of three oxygen atoms, and it can be found in the Earth's upper atmosphere and at ground level. While stratospheric ozone is beneficial as it protects living things from ultraviolet radiation from the sun, ground-level ozone is harmful. Ground-level ozone is a secondary pollutant, formed when pollutants emitted by cars, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries, and chemical plants react chemically in the presence of sunlight. It is the main ingredient in "smog" and can trigger a variety of health issues, especially for children, the elderly, and people with lung diseases such as asthma.
The EPA designates areas as attainment or nonattainment based on their air quality in relation to national ambient air quality standards. States with nonattainment areas must develop a State Implementation Plan (SIP) to outline measures for improving air quality. These plans play a crucial role in reducing ground-level ozone and its harmful effects on human health and the environment.
The EPA's Integrated Review Plan for the current review of the Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards is another crucial initiative. Released in December 2024, Volumes 1 and 2 of this plan provide insights into the Agency's efforts to address ground-level ozone pollution. By working with states, tribes, and utilizing data from air quality monitors, the EPA aims to ensure that areas meet the required standards and protect public health and the environment from the detrimental impacts of ground-level ozone.
Overall, ground-level ozone is a severe environmental and health concern. The EPA's regulations, standards, and collaborative efforts with states and tribes are vital steps towards reducing this pollutant and safeguarding the well-being of communities and ecosystems affected by ground-level ozone pollution. Continuous monitoring, research, and implementation of effective measures are essential to ensure that ground-level ozone levels are mitigated and that the air we breathe is safe and healthy.
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Carbon monoxide
Standards refer to the maximum permissible levels of pollutants, as set by regulatory bodies. These standards are based on scientific guidelines and are designed to protect public health and the environment.
The Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA) sets standards for safe working conditions in the US, including maximum carbon monoxide levels. The OSHA personal exposure limit (PEL) for CO is 50 parts per million (ppm) averaged over an 8-hour period. Maritime workers must be removed from exposure if the CO concentration exceeds 100 ppm.
UL-certified CO alarms are designed to meet standards that balance responsiveness with the requirement to not generate nuisance alarms due to background CO caused by outdoor pollution or the normal use of fuel-burning appliances. The alarm thresholds are set by CO concentration measured in ppm. For example, the alarm should sound at 70 ppm for one to four hours and 400 ppm for four to 15 minutes.
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Frequently asked questions
Criteria air pollutants are a group of six common air pollutants that are found all over the United States. These include particulate matter, ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lead. These pollutants can cause harm to human health and the environment, as well as property damage.
Primary standards are limits based on human health and provide public health protection. Secondary standards are limits intended to prevent environmental and property damage and provide public welfare protection.
Coarse particles, also known as PM10, are inhalable particles with a diameter between 2.5 and 10 micrometers. Sources of these particles include pollen, sea spray, and wind-blown dust. Fine particles, also known as PM2.5, have a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller and are typically found in smoke or haze. They are considered more harmful to human health and can be derived from primary and secondary sources.
Air toxics are air pollutants that cause adverse health effects. Some examples of air toxics include 1,3-Butadiene, Formaldehyde, and Benzene. These compounds are known or probable human carcinogens and are emitted from vehicles.
