Air > Air Quality

The Clean Air Act requires EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards for pollutants considered harmful to public health and the environment. The Clean Air Act establishes two types of national air quality standards. 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 public welfare, including protection against decreased visibility, damage to animals, crops, vegetation, and buildings.

Recommended EPA Web pages

Air Quality
There is a lot of information, linked on this page to information about air quality, and how OAQPS handles air quality.
Air Trends
Links to publications on air quality and emissions.
Air Quality Planning and Standards
The Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards' primary mission is to preserve and improve air quality in the United States.

List more recommended EPA Air Quality web pages

Browse these EPA Air Quality subtopics

Air Pollutants
Aerosols, Asbestos, Carbon Monoxide, Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), Criteria Air Pollutants, Ground Level Ozone, Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs), Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), Lead, Mercury, Methane, Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Particulate Matter (PM), Propellants, Radon, Refrigerants, Substitutes, Sulfur Oxides (SO2), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Air Pollution
Certification Programs, Community Involvement, Industrial Air Pollution, New Source Review, Research, State Implementation Plans, Stationary Sources, Testing, Transboundary Pollution, Urban Air Pollution

Air Pollution Control
Abatement, Remediation, Treatment

Air Pollution Effects
Acid Rain, Climate Change, Economic Effects, Environmental Effects, Global Warming, Health Effects, Heat Island Effect, Risk Assessment

Air Pollution Legal Aspects
Compliance, Enforcement, Guidance, Legislation, Permits, Public Comment, Regulations, Reporting, Standards

Air Pollution Monitoring
Emission Factor, Emission Inventory, Emissions, Measurement, Models, World Trade Center Monitoring

Check! Air Quality
Air Quality Criteria, Attainment, Early Action Compacts, Emission Factor, Emission Inventory, Emissions, Emissions Measurement, Emissions Trading, Measurement, Models, Monitoring, Nonattainment

Atmosphere
Carbon Sequestration, Climate Change, Global Warming, Ground Level Ozone, Ozone Depletion, Ozone Layer, Ozone Monitoring, Ozone Transport, Smog, Ultraviolet Radiation (UV)

Indoor Air Pollution
Building Related Illness, Carbon Monoxide, Environmental Tobacco Smoke, Fireplaces, Mercury, Mold, Radon, Sick Building Syndrome, Stoves, Vermiculite, World Trade Center Dust Cleanup

Mobile Sources
Airplanes, Automobiles, Diesels, Engines, Fuels, Inspection and Maintenance, Lawn and Garden Equipment, Locomotives, Marine Engines, Motorcycles, Trucks and Buses, Used Oil Recycling, Vehicle Emissions