National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
The Clean Air Act,
which was last amended in 1990, requires EPA to set National Ambient
Air Quality Standards (40 CFR part 50) for pollutants considered harmful to public health
and the environment. The Clean Air Act identifies two types of national ambient
air quality standards. Primary standards provide public health protection, including
protecting the health of "sensitive" populations such as
asthmatics, children, and the elderly. Secondary standards
provide public welfare protection, including protection against decreased
visibility and damage to animals, crops, vegetation, and buildings.
EPA has set
National Ambient Air Quality Standards for six principal pollutants, which
are called "criteria" pollutants. They are listed below. Units of measure
for the standards are parts per million (ppm) by volume,
parts per billion (ppb) by volume, and micrograms per cubic meter of
air (µg/m3).
Pollutant
[final rule cite] |
Primary/
Secondary |
Averaging Time |
Level |
Form |
Carbon Monoxide
[76 FR 54294, Aug 31, 2011] |
primary |
8-hour |
9 ppm |
Not to be exceeded more than once per year |
1-hour |
35 ppm |
Lead
[73 FR 66964, Nov 12, 2008] |
primary and
secondary |
Rolling 3 month average |
0.15 μg/m3 (1) |
Not to be exceeded |
Nitrogen Dioxide
[75 FR 6474, Feb 9, 2010]
[61 FR 52852, Oct 8, 1996] |
primary |
1-hour |
100 ppb |
98th percentile, averaged over 3 years |
|
primary and
secondary |
Annual |
53 ppb (2) |
Annual Mean |
Ozone
[73 FR 16436, Mar 27, 2008] |
primary and
secondary |
8-hour |
0.075 ppm (3) |
Annual fourth-highest daily maximum 8-hr concentration, averaged over 3 years |
Particle Pollution
[71 FR 61144,
Oct 17, 2006] |
PM2.5 |
primary and
secondary |
Annual |
15 μg/m3 |
annual mean, averaged over 3 years |
24-hour |
35 μg/m3 |
98th percentile, averaged over 3 years |
PM10 |
primary and
secondary |
24-hour |
150 μg/m3 |
Not to be exceeded more than once per year on average over 3 years |
Sulfur Dioxide
[75 FR 35520, Jun 22, 2010]
[38 FR 25678, Sept 14, 1973] |
primary |
1-hour |
75 ppb (4) |
99th percentile of 1-hour daily maximum concentrations, averaged over 3 years |
secondary |
3-hour |
0.5 ppm |
Not to be exceeded more than once per year |
|
as of October 2011 |
(1) Final rule signed October 15, 2008. The 1978 lead standard (1.5 µg/m3 as a quarterly average) remains in effect until one year after an area is designated for the 2008 standard, except that in areas designated nonattainment for the 1978, the 1978 standard remains in effect until implementation plans to attain or maintain the 2008 standard are approved.
(2) The official level of the annual NO2 standard is 0.053 ppm, equal to 53 ppb, which is shown here for the purpose of clearer comparison to the 1-hour standard.
(3) Final rule signed March 12, 2008. The 1997 ozone standard (0.08 ppm, annual fourth-highest daily maximum 8-hour concentration, averaged over 3 years) and related implementation rules remain in place. In 1997, EPA revoked the 1-hour ozone standard (0.12 ppm, not to be exceeded more than once per year) in all areas, although some areas have continued obligations under that standard (“anti-backsliding”). The 1-hour ozone standard is attained when the expected number of days per calendar year with maximum hourly average concentrations above 0.12 ppm is less than or equal to 1.
(4) Final rule signed June 2, 2010. The 1971 annual and 24-hour SO2 standards were revoked in that same rulemaking. However, these standards remain in effect until one year after an area is designated for the 2010 standard, except in areas designated nonattainment for the 1971 standards, where the 1971 standards remain in effect until implementation plans to attain or maintain the 2010 standard are approved.
See historical tables of NAAQS standards
The Menu of Control Measures (MCM) provides state, local and tribal air agencies with the existing emission reduction measures as well as relevant information concerning the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the measures. State, local and tribal agencies will be able to use this information in developing emission reduction strategies, plans and programs to assure they attain and maintain the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The MCM is a living document that can be updated with newly available or more current data as it becomes available.