Measure E3: Long-Term Exposure to Criteria Air Pollutants

Download high-resolution JPEG file of this graph

• In 1993, on average, children experienced a concentration of 28 µg/m³ of PM-10, which represents 56 percent of the annual standard. By 2006, the concentration had fallen to 51 percent of that level. Note, however, that the PM-10 annual standard was revoked in 2006. From 1993-2006, between 52 and 67 percent of children lived in counties with monitoring stations for PM-10.
• In 1993, on average, children experienced a concentration of 0.02 parts per million of nitrogen dioxide, which represents 42 percent of the annual standard. By 2006, this percentage had fallen to 29 percent of the standard. During these years, between 28 and 46 percent of children lived in counties with monitoring stations for nitrogen dioxide.
• In 1993, on average, children living in counties with monitoring stations experienced a concentration of 0.006 parts per million of sulfur dioxide, which represents 20 percent of the annual standard. By 2006, this percentage had fallen to 9 percent of the standard. During these years, between 42 and 51 percent of children lived in counties with monitoring stations for sulfur dioxide.
• In 1999, on average, children living in counties with monitoring stations experienced a concentration of 14.6 parts per million of PM-2.5, which represents 97 percent of the annual standard. By 2006, this percentage had declined to 78 percent of the standard. During these years, between 61 and 72 percent of children lived in counties with monitoring stations for PM-2.5.

Related Measures:

• Respiratory Illnesses

 

Download high-resolution JPEG file of this graph

• In 2006, about 3 million children experienced an average PM-2.5 concentration above the annual standard, down from about 18 million children in 1999 and 20 million children in 2000.
• In 2006, about 25 million children experienced a relatively high average concentration of PM-2.5 (greater than 80 percent of the annual standard), down from about 31 million children in 1999 and 36 million children in 2000.
• The PM-10 annual mean standard, 50 µg/m³, was revoked in 2006.
• In 2006, about 14,000 children experienced an average PM-10 concentration above the previous annual standard, compared with about 34,000 in 1993 and about 474,000 in 1994.
• In 2006, about 2 million children experienced a relatively high average concentration of PM-10 (greater than 80 percent of the previous annual standard), down from nearly 4 million children in 1993, although up from about 800,000 children in 2004.

Related Measures:

• Respiratory Illnesses