The Clean Air Act stipulates the enforcement of National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), or air pollution limits for six contaminants that are believed to be most harmful to humans and the environment. Contaminants under NAAQS regulation are [carbon monoxide], Lead, [nitrogen dioxide], Lead, particulate matter, ozone, and sulfur dioxide (Green Media Toolshed, Pollution Locater, 2005).

Criteria Air Pollutants

The Clean Air Act authorizes the EPA to establish the NAAQS for "criteria air pollutants." To be considered for regulation, the pollutant must be considered to be harmful to public health or welfare, and the presence of the pollution in ambient air must be the result of emission from many or varied mobile or stationary sources (Green Media Toolshed, Criteria Air Pollutants, 2005).

Standards

NAAQS has two levels of quality standards regarding contamination levels of the six regulated pollutants: primary and secondary standards. Primary standards sets contamination levels that are meant to protect sensitive individuals, such as children, the elderly, and asthmatics. Secondary standards are limits to protect general welfare, and to prevent damage to crops, animals, buildings, and vegetation. Sulfur dioxide is the only pollutant with specified secondary standards that differ from primary standards (Green Media Toolshed, Criteria Air Pollutants, 2005).

Controversy

In Environmental Health Perspectives, Richard Dahl argues that current NAAQS levels may not be stringent enough for ozone. Ozone, a common pollutant in urban areas, is believed to affect lung and respiratory functioning. A study concerning ozone levels did not find a level of ozone pollution at which human mortality is unaffected, suggesting that the NAAQS for ozone does not adequately meet its objective of protecting the health of sensitive individuals. Dahl proposes that significant decreases in ozone levels, possibly achieved through transportation planning, may considerably improve human health, even in areas that currently meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (Dahl, 2006).

Performance Assessment

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget assesses the performance of the NAAQS as adequate, giving its performance one out of three stars. The assessment notes key issues with the performance of the NAAQS, noting that it "lacks efficiency measures". The assessment also notes the lack of progress assessment built into the goals of the NAAQS, and states that it is difficult to see how particulate matter research will be used to request funding for related policy changes. Because of this assessment, the NAAQS has developed improvement plans, which will hopefully lead to a more efficient program (US OMB).

External Links

• NAAQS on Wikipedia
  
  
• Fine Particulate Matter in the Northeast
  
  
• EPA NAAQS Homepage
  
  

References

Dahl, Richard. "Ozone Overload: Current Standards May Not Protect Health". Environews: Science Selections. Environmental Health Perspectives Volume 114, Number 4. (April 2006). Accessed 07/29/07.

Environmental Protection Agency. Technology Transfer Network. NAAQS. Updated 05/31/07. Accessed 07/17/07.


Green Media Toolshed. Scorecard. Pollution Locator. National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Scorcard.org. Copyright 2005. Accessed 07/29/07.


Green Media Toolshed. Scorecard. Regulations. Federal Regulatory Program Lists. Criteria Air Pollutants. Copyright 2005. Accessed 07/29/07.


U.S. Office of Management and Budget (and Federal agencies). Program Assessment. National Ambient Air Quality Standards Research. Expectmore.gov. Accessed 07/29/07.