Monitoring
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The Clean Air Act establishes standards to protect the public and
the environment from adverse health and welfare effects of air pollution.
These standards, National Ambient Air Quality
Standards (NAAQS), define the maximum permissible concentrations
for certain pollutants, known as criteria pollutants.
NAAQS currently exist for six criteria pollutants: carbon monoxide
(CO),
lead (Pb),
nitrogen dioxide (NO2),
ozone (O3),
sulfur dioxide (SO2),
and particulate matter (PM).
There are two categories of PM, particulate matter less than 10
micrometers (PM-10) and particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers
(PM-2.5).
A network of air quality monitoring stations routinely measures
concentrations of the criteria air pollutants in the ambient air. To see the monitor locations and the types of pollutants monitored at each site, use the GPS map here. Air quality monitoring data for 2012 is now posted in the 2012 Air Data Report. This year's report includes a section on speciation of particulate matter. Earlier reports are still available: 2011 Air Data Report, 2010 Air Data Report.
Page last updated:
April 15, 2013
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