Regulations & Standards
The 1970 Clean Air Act Amendments was the first major step in federal legislation to control air pollution.
How is air quality regulated in the US?
The 1970 Clean Air Act Amendments was the first major step in federal legislation to control air pollution. The Act required states to submit State Implementation Plans (SIPs) to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for pollutants considered harmful to public health and the environment. Current regulations to monitor air pollution and enforce emissions limits are based on updates to the Clean Air Act in 1977 and 1990.
For a detailed look at measurement standards, air quality index, and new air pollution sensor technologies, go to this page.
8 of 10
most polluted cities in the US are in California — despite the most stringent standards in the country
Some states also have their own air quality regulatory agency. In the state of California, the Air Resources Board specifies additional standards and enforcement to the national mandate. In spite of having the most stringent standards in the country, California has eight out of the ten most polluted cities in the US. This is due to the state’s large population (33 million) and unique geography.
Most cities in California lie in plains or in valleys surrounded by mountains. These mountains trap air pollution and prevent the air from circulating. On some days a phenomenon known as temperature inversion (where the air closer to the ground becomes cooler than the air above) occurs. This prevents air near the ground from dispersing upward.
What are the standards for air quality in the US?
NAAQS · standard one
Primary standards
Primary standards that provide public health protection for at-risk populations, including asthmatics, children, and the elderly.
NAAQS · standard two
Secondary standards
Secondary standards that provide public welfare protection, including protection against decreased visibility and damage to animals, crops, vegetation, and buildings.
The EPA requires the NAAQS to be reviewed and updated every five years to account for better understanding of the health effects and welfare risks from air pollution.
The NAAQS consists of two standards:
Summary of health and environmental costs by pollutant.
| Pollutant | Standard | Averaging time | Level | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon Monoxide (CO) | primary | 8 hours | 9 ppm | Not to be exceeded more than once per year |
| primary | 1 hour | 35 ppm | Not to be exceeded more than once per year | |
| Lead (Pb) | primary and secondary |
Rolling 3 month average | 0.15 μg/m3 | Not to be exceeded |
| Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) | primary | 1 hour | 100 ppb | 98th percentile of 1-hour daily maximum concentrations, averaged over 3 years |
| primary and secondary |
1 hour | 53 ppb | Annual Mean | |
| Ozone (O3) | primary and secondary |
8 hours | 0.070 ppm | Annual fourth-highest daily maximum 8-hour concentration, averaged over 3 years |
| PM2.5 | primary | 1 Year | 12.0 μg/m3 | Annual fourth-highest daily maximum 8-hour concentration, averaged over 3 years |
| secondary | 1 Year | 15.0 μg/m3 | Annual mean, averaged over 3 years | |
| primary and secondary |
24 hours | 15.0 μg/m3 | 98th percentile, averaged over 3 years | |
| PM10 | primary and secondary |
24 hours | 150 μg/m3 | Not to be exceeded more than once per year on average over 3 years |
| Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) | primary | 1 hour | 75 ppb | 99th percentile of 1-hour daily maximum concentrations, averaged over 3 years |
| secondary | 3 hours | 0.5 ppm | Not to be exceeded more than once per year |
How is the air quality assessed?
The Air Quality Index (AQI) is an indicator of overall air quality and its impact on health. Each country has its own AQI which reflects the country’s air quality standards. In the US, the AQI is calculated for five pollutants: ozone, particulate pollution, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide.
The US AQI ranges from 0 to 500 with a ranking of 0 to 100 for each individual pollutant. The higher the AQI value, the greater the overall level of air pollution. Health impacts are roughly correlated to the AQI. For example, an AQI value of 50 represents good air quality with little potential to affect public health, while an AQI value over 300 represents hazardous air quality.