Air Quality

Federal Register Notices

Contact

Ila L. Cote: by phone at: 919-541-4173; by email at: cote.ila@epa.gov

EPA has set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for six principal pollutants, which include:

ozone,
particulate matter,
carbon monoxide,
sulfur dioxide,
nitrogen oxides, and
lead

Called "criteria pollutants", they are derived from numerous sources and are considered harmful to public health and the environment.

The Clean Air Act established and requires periodic review of two types of standards that limit permissible amounts of the criteria pollutants. Primary standards set limits to protect public health, including the health of sensitive populations such as asthmatics, children, and the elderly. Secondary standards set limits to protect against visibility impairment, damage to ecosystems and to animals, crops, vegetation, and buildings.

New Releases

9/12: Primary - Health Criteria for Sulfur Oxides (SOx) Final Report
8/12: Secondary - Environmental Criteria (both NOx & SOx): Second External Release Draft

EPA's National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) leads the effort to periodically review the science upon which the NAAQS are based. The table below provides links to more information about each criteria pollutant.

Listed are the Integrated Science Assessments (ISAs) for the NAAQS Review of:

Carbon Monoxide (CO) - 2000 (Final)