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The National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) are standards established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency that apply for outdoor air throughout the country. Primary standards are designed to protect human health, including sensitive populations such as children, the elderly, and individuals suffering from respiratory disease. Secondary standards are designed to protect public welfare (e.g. building facades, visibility, crops, and domestic animals).
NAAQS requires the EPA to set standards on six criteria pollutants:
- Ozone (O3)
- Particulate Matter
- PM10, course particles: 2.5 micrometers (μm) to 10 μm in size (although current implementation includes all particles 10 μg or less in the standard)
- PM2.5, fine particles: 2.5 μm in size or less
- Carbon monoxide (CO)
- Sulfur dioxide (SO2)
- Nitrogen oxides (NOx)
- Lead (Pb)
Standards
| Pollutant | Type | Standard | Averaging Time | Regulatory Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SO2 | Primary | 0.14 ppm (365 μg/m3) | 24-hour | 40 CFR 50.4(b) |
| SO2 | Primary | 0.030 ppm (80 μg/m3) | annual | 40 CFR 50.4(a) |
| SO2 | Secondary | 0.5 ppm (1,300 μg/m3) | 3-hour | 40 CFR 50.5(a) |
| PM10 | Primary and Secondary | 150 μg/m3 | 24-hour | 40 CFR 50.6(a) |
| PM10 | Primary and Secondary | 50 μg/m3 | annual | 40 CFR 50.6(b) |
| PM2.5 | Primary and Secondary | 65 μg/m3 | 24-hour | 40 CFR 50.7(a) |
| PM2.5 | Primary and Secondary | 15 μg/m3 | annual | 40 CFR 50.7(a) |
| CO | Primary | 35 ppm (40 mg/m3) | 1-hour | 40 CFR 50.8(a)(2) |
| CO | Primary | 9 ppm (10 mg/m3) | 8-hour | 40 CFR 50.8(a)(1) |
| O3 | Primary and Secondary | 0.12 ppm (235 μg/m3) | 1-hour | 40 CFR 50.9(a) |
| O3 | Primary and Secondary | 0.08 ppm (235 μg/m3) | 8-hour | 40 CFR 50.10(a) |
| NOx | Primary and Secondary | 0.053 ppm (100 μg/m3) | annual | 40 CFR 50.11(a) and (b) |
| Pb | Primary and Secondary | 1.5 μg/m3 | quarterly | 40 CFR 50.12 |
Each standard has its own criteria for how many times it may be exceeded, in some cases using a three year average.
As of June 15, 2005, the 1-hour ozone standard no longer applies to areas designated with respect to the 8-hour ozone standard (which includes most of the United States, except for portions of 10 states).
Source: USEPA
See also
- Asthma
- Atmospheric dispersion modeling
- Clean Air Act (USA) (1990)
- Air pollution
- TSCA (Toxic Substances Control Act)
- Air Quality Index
External links
Toxicology | Environmental Protection Agency | Pollution in the United States | Air dispersion modeling
"National Ambient Air Quality Standards"