Taking Toxics Out of the Air
Progress in Setting "Maximum Achievable Control Technology" Standards Under the Clean Air Act
Air toxics are those air pollutants that are known or suspected
to cause cancer or other serious health problems. Each year,
millions of tons of air toxics are released into the air,
mostly from manmade sources. This document describes what
air toxics are, where they come from, and how they can impact
people and the environment. It also describes the steps
being taken by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
to reduce emissions of air toxics from major industrial
sources such as chemical manufacturing plants, petroleum
refineries, and steel manufacturing plants.
Published by the US EPA
Office of Air Quality Planning & Standards
August 2000