Regulation under the Clean Air Act: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| (2 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
Because they are harmful to our health, [[Particulate matter and coal dust|airborne particles]] are regulated as part of the Clean Air Act. The [[Regulatory Agencies#U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)|U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)]] controls [[Particulate matter and coal dust|PM<sub>2.5</sub>]] and [[Particulate matter and coal dust|PM<sub>10</sub>]] as two of six criteria pollutants that must meet concentration thresholds known as the [https://www.epa.gov/criteria-air-pollutants/naaqs-table National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)], often pronounced as "the nacks". | Because they are harmful to our health, [[Particulate matter and coal dust|airborne particles]] are regulated as part of the Clean Air Act. The [[Regulatory Agencies#U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)|U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)]] controls [[Particulate matter and coal dust|PM<sub>2.5</sub>]] and [[Particulate matter and coal dust|PM<sub>10</sub>]] as two of six criteria pollutants that must meet concentration thresholds known as the [https://www.epa.gov/criteria-air-pollutants/naaqs-table National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)], often pronounced as "the nacks". | ||
The [[Particulate matter and coal dust|PM<sub>10</sub>]] NAAQS is a 24-hour average mass concentration of 150 μg/m<sup>3</sup>, not to be exceeded more than three times over three years.<ref name=":0">U.S. EPA, [https://www.epa.gov/criteria-air-pollutants/naaqs-table NAAQS Table]</ref> There are two [[Particulate matter and coal dust|PM<sub>2.5</sub>]] NAAQS: a 24-hour average mass concentration of 35 μg/m<sup>3</sup> and a recently revised annual average mass concentration of 9 μg/m<sup>3</sup>.<ref name=":0" /> The NAAQS are set to protect public health, including the health of more sensitive individuals such those with asthma as well as children and elders. That said, there is no known safe level of exposure to | The [[Particulate matter and coal dust|PM<sub>10</sub>]] NAAQS is a 24-hour average mass concentration of 150 μg/m<sup>3</sup>, not to be exceeded more than three times over three years.<ref name=":0">U.S. EPA, [https://www.epa.gov/criteria-air-pollutants/naaqs-table NAAQS Table]</ref> There are two [[Particulate matter and coal dust|PM<sub>2.5</sub>]] NAAQS: a 24-hour average mass concentration of 35 μg/m<sup>3</sup> and a recently revised annual average mass concentration of 9 μg/m<sup>3</sup>.<ref name=":0" /> The NAAQS are set to protect public health, including the health of more sensitive individuals such those with asthma as well as children and elders. That said, there is no known safe level of exposure to [[Particulate matter and coal dust|PM<sub>2.5</sub>]], with documented health impacts below the NAAQS.<ref>Makar et al., [https://journals.lww.com/epidem/abstract/2017/09000/estimating_the_causal_effect_of_low_levels_of_fine.1.aspx Estimating the Causal Effect of Low Levels of Fine Particulate Matter on Hospitalization], ''Epidemiology'', 28, 5, 627–634, 2017.</ref> | ||
To determine NAAQS compliance, [[Particulate matter and coal dust|PM<sub>2.5</sub>]] and [[Particulate matter and coal dust|PM<sub>10</sub>]] must be measured using designated [[Air monitoring#Regulatory Air Monitoring|regulatory air monitors]] by an agency with the authority to do so, which in Virginia is the [[Regulatory Agencies#Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VA DEQ)|Department of Environmental Quality (VA DEQ)]]. | To determine NAAQS compliance, [[Particulate matter and coal dust|PM<sub>2.5</sub>]] and [[Particulate matter and coal dust|PM<sub>10</sub>]] must be measured using designated [[Air monitoring#Regulatory Air Monitoring|regulatory air monitors]] by an agency with the authority to do so, which in Virginia is the [[Regulatory Agencies#Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VA DEQ)|Department of Environmental Quality (VA DEQ)]]. | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
Latest revision as of 03:12, 5 June 2025
Because they are harmful to our health, airborne particles are regulated as part of the Clean Air Act. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) controls PM2.5 and PM10 as two of six criteria pollutants that must meet concentration thresholds known as the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), often pronounced as "the nacks".
The PM10 NAAQS is a 24-hour average mass concentration of 150 μg/m3, not to be exceeded more than three times over three years.[1] There are two PM2.5 NAAQS: a 24-hour average mass concentration of 35 μg/m3 and a recently revised annual average mass concentration of 9 μg/m3.[1] The NAAQS are set to protect public health, including the health of more sensitive individuals such those with asthma as well as children and elders. That said, there is no known safe level of exposure to PM2.5, with documented health impacts below the NAAQS.[2]
To determine NAAQS compliance, PM2.5 and PM10 must be measured using designated regulatory air monitors by an agency with the authority to do so, which in Virginia is the Department of Environmental Quality (VA DEQ).
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 U.S. EPA, NAAQS Table
- ↑ Makar et al., Estimating the Causal Effect of Low Levels of Fine Particulate Matter on Hospitalization, Epidemiology, 28, 5, 627–634, 2017.