Air Toxics

Air Toxics Science Advisory Committee (ATSAC) Oregon Air Toxics Program Information Sign-up for Alerts

National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) Portland Air Toxics Solutions (PATS) Monitoring for Toxics at Oregon Schools NEW

DEQ´s Air Toxics Program reduces air toxics emissions by regulating industry and implementing emission reduction programs for vehicles and other sources. Air Toxics, also called hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), or toxic air pollutants, are those pollutants known or suspected to cause serious health effects including cancer. Air toxics can also damage the environment. They include metal fumes, smoke, particles, and vapors from fuels, coatings and other sources.

Air Toxics come from natural sources such as forest fires and volcanoes and from human sources, both stationary and mobile. Stationary sources can be large, such as wood products or metal processing plants or small, such as wood stoves or auto body shops. Mobile sources are major contributors to air toxics emissions particularly in Oregon's urban areas. They can be classified as on-road, such as cars and trucks, or off-road, such as construction equipment and lawnmowers.

Air Toxics in Oregon

Emissions of air toxics include benzene, toluene and xylene which are found in gasoline; perchloroethylene, which is used in dry cleaning, and formaldehyde which is emitted by manufacturing facilities and vehicles.

Diesel is a leading air toxic of concern. Diesel emissions include tiny particles that are toxic and can be breathed deeply into the lungs where they can cause a range of health problems from increasing asthma to increasing the risk of cancer. Because diesel engines are widely used in marine vessels, heavy duty trucks and construction equipment, diesel emission levels in parts of Oregon exceed healthy levels. Fortunately, there are techniques and technologies that reduce diesel. Biodiesel is one way to reduce diesel emissions.

Mercury is another toxic air pollutant of concern. Mercury is significant because it is a persistent and potent nerve toxin. Global emissions, produced primarily from the worldwide practice of burning coal and other industrial processes such as cement manufacturing are deposited in Oregon’s water bodies through rain fall. This can cause mercury to accumulate in fish tissue at high levels. Consumption of mercury contaminated fish is the most common way humans are exposed to this toxic pollutant. Locally, Oregon has adopted a Utility Mercury Rule that limits mercury emissions for new plants and mandates installation of mercury control technology for Oregon’s only existing coal-fired power plant.

Air Toxics Science Advisory Committee (ATSAC)

• Air Toxics Advisory Committee Final Report, June 2002 PDF
• ATSAC Committee Update
• Committee Meeting Schedule

Oregon Air Toxics Program

• Air Toxics Program Rules (including Ambient Benchmark Concentrations)
  • Internal Management Directives (IMD):
    • Technical Analysis Tools and Guidance for Implementation of the Air Toxics Program
    • Policy and Implementation Guidance for the Oregon Air Toxics Program
• Asbestos Guidance and Resources
• Diesel, Biodiesel, Oregon Clean Diesel Initiative
• Frequently Asked Questions About Air Toxics in Oregon
• Particulate Matter Pollution

Air Toxics Publications

• Air Toxics of Concern in Oregon PDF
• Air Toxics Monitoring at Toledo Elementary School PDF
• Ambient Benchmark Concentrations (ABC) PDF
• Analyzing Air Toxics Data PDF
• Benzene in Oregon’s Air PDF
• Reducing Toxic Air Pollutants PDF

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