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Criteria Air Pollutants

EPA uses six "criteria pollutants" as indicators of air quality EPA established for each of them a maximum concentration above which adverse effects on human health may occur.

Criteria air pollutants

Nitrogen Dioxide: NO2
brownish gas irritates the respiratory system originates from combustion (N2 in air is oxidized); NOx sum of NO, NO2, other oxides of N

Ozone: ground level O3

primary constituent of urban smog reaction of VOC + NOx in presence of heat +sun light

Carbon monoxide: CO
reduces bloods ability to carry O2 product of incomplete combustion
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 Lead: Pb
cause learning disabilities in children , toxic to liver, kidney, blood forming organs tetraethyl lead anti knock agent in gasoline
leaded gasoline has been phased out

Particulate Matter: PM10 (PM 2.5)

respiratory disorders

Sulfur Dioxide: SO2

formed when fuel (coal, oil) containing S is burned and metal smelting precursor to acid rain along with NOx
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Comparison of 1970 and 1999 Emissions

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Number of People Living in Counties with Air Quality Concentrations Above the Level of the NAAQS in 1999

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Trends in Sulfur Dioxide Emissions Following Implementation of Phase I of the Acid Rain Program: Total State-level Utility SO2 (1980, 1990, 1999)

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Water Pollution
Based on current water quality standards, over 70 percent of our rivers, 68 percent of our estuaries and 60 percent of our lakes now meet legislatively mandated goals.
Some of the risks include
pollutant runoff from agricultural lands stormwater flows from cities
About 40,000 times each year, sanitary sewers overflow and release raw sewage to streets and waterbodies.
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Water Pollution
seepage into ground water from nonpoint sources the loss of habitats such as wetlands. we cannot always eat what we catch because fish flesh is contaminated by the remaining discharges and sources of toxic substances. Microbial contamination of drinking water still presents problems in many communities.
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Pollution Sources
Point sources are direct discharges to a single point;
examples include discharges from sewage treatment plants, injection wells,and some industrial sources.

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Pollution Sources
Non-point sources are diffused across a broad area and their contamination cannot be traced to a single discharge point.
Examples include runoff of excess fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides from agricultural lands and residential areas; oil, grease, and toxic chemicals from urban runoff and energy production; and sediment from improperly managed construction sites, crop and forest lands, and eroding stream banks.
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