Air Quality Standards

Air Quality Standards

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency establishes National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to protect public health from adverse effects of air pollution. Standards are set for six outdoor air pollutants, called Criteria Pollutants.

A Closer Look at Air Toxics

In addition to criteria air pollutants, Spokane Clean Air's work involves reducing air toxics. Air toxics are a group of over 400 pollutants known or suspected to cause a number of health problems, including cancer and birth defects, as well as damage to lungs, and immune and nervous systems.

In our region, air toxics come primarily from particulate matter contained in diesel exhaust and smoke from wood burning. While air toxics do not have federal ambient air quality standards, our research indicates that they are present in our air at levels that pose a health risk to residents.

To better quantify toxic pollutants in Spokane's air, a team of state, local and university air quality specialists conducted a study of Spokane's air in 2005-2006. Click here for details.