Pollutant
Sources
Effects
Prevention and Control
Ozone (O3)
Formed in the lower atmosphere
when reactive organic gases, also
known as VOCs (volatile organic
compounds), and nitrogen oxides
(NOx) react in the presence of
sunlight, especially during hot
weather. Sources of VOCs and
NOx include fuel combustion
(gasoline, natural gas, wood, oil,
etc.); solvents, petroleum
processing and storage, pesticides,
landfills and numerous small
sources such as gas stations, farm
equipment and lawn equipment.
Respiratory tract irritation,
chest pain, breathing
difficulties, lung tissue damage,
damage to rubber and some
plastics, reduced agricultural
yields, and injury to forests and
vegetation.
Reduce motor vehicle VOC and
nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions
through emission standards,
reformulated fuels, inspection
programs, and reduced vehicle
use. Limit emissions from
commercial operations and
consumer products. Limit VOC
and NOx emissions from
industrial sources such as power
plants and refineries. Walk or bike
to work. Conserve energy.
Particulate Matter
(PM10) *
Road dust, windblown dust,
agriculture and construction,
fireplaces. Also formed from other
pollutants (acid rain, NOx, SOx,
organics). Incomplete combustion
of any fuel.
Increased respiratory disease,
lung damage, cancer, premature
death. Surface soiling and
reduced visibility.
Control dust sources, industrial
particulate emissions, wood
burning stoves and fireplaces.
Reduce secondary pollutants,
which react to form PM10. Walk or
bike to work. Conserve energy.
Fine Particulate
Matter (PM2.5) *
Fuel combustion in motor vehicles,
equipment, and industrial sources;
residential and agricultural
burning. Also formed from reaction
of other pollutants such as acid rain
precursors (nitrogen oxides and
sulfur oxides) and organics.
Increased respiratory disease,
lung damage, cancer, premature
death. Surface soiling and
reduced visibility (obscures
mountains and other scenery,
reduces airport safety, lowers
real estate value, discourages
tourism).
Reduce combustion emissions
from motor vehicles, equipment,
industries, and agriculture and
residential burning. Precursor
controls, like those for ozone,
reduce fine particle formation in
the atmosphere. Walk or bike to
work.
A colorless gas that is the
major constituent of
photochemical smog at the
earth’s surface. In the upper
atmosphere (stratosphere),
however, ozone is beneficial,
protecting us from the sun’s
harmful rays.
Information compiled from EPA 450-K-92-002 and http://www.arb.ca.gov/
Revised 10/10/07_pe
Pollutant
Sources
Effects
Prevention and Control
Lead
(Pb)
Metal smelters, car battery plants,
combustion of garbage containing
lead products, resource recovery,
leaded gasoline, deterioration of
lead paint. ingestion of
contaminated dust, soil, paint or
direct inhalation.
Learning disabilities, brain and
kidney damage. This is
particularly a risk for young
children, whose normal hand to
mouth activities can result in
greater ingestion of lead
contaminated soils and dusts.
Control metal smelters, no lead in
gasoline. Replace leaded paint
with non-lead substitutes.
Nitrogen Dioxide
(NO2)
Any source that burns fuel such as
automobiles, trucks, heavy
construction equipment and
farming equipment, residential
heating and industrial boilers.
Lung irritation and damage. In
children, may cause increased
respiratory illness such as chest
colds and coughing with
phlegm. For asthmatics can
cause increased breathing
difficulty. Reacts in the
atmosphere to form ozone and
acid rain.
Control motor vehicle and
industrial combustion emissions.
Turn off engine. Walk or bike to
work. Conserve energy.
Any source that burns fuel such as
automobiles, trucks, heavy
construction equipment and
farming equipment, and residential
heating. High concentrations can
be found in confined spaces like
parking garages, poorly ventilated
tunnels, or along roadsides during
periods of heavy traffic.
Reduced ability of blood to
deliver oxygen to vital tissues,
affecting primarily the
cardiovascular and nervous
systems. Chest pain in heart
patients, headaches, reduced
mental alertness, death.
Control motor vehicle and
industrial emissions. Use
oxygenated gasoline during winter
months. Turn off engine. Walk or
bike to work. Conserve energy.
Light brown gas at lower
concentrations; in higher
concentrations becomes an
important component of
brown, urban haze.
Carbon Monoxide
(CO)
Odorless and colorless gas
emitted in the exhaust of
motor vehicles and other
kinds of engines, due to
incomplete fossil fuel
combustion.
Information compiled from EPA 450-K-92-002 and http://www.arb.ca.gov/
Revised 10/10/07_pe
Pollutant
Sources
Effects
Prevention and Control
Sulfur Dioxide
(SO2)
Coal or oil burning power plants
and industries, refineries, diesel
engines, utility and apartmenthouse furnaces and boilers,
smelters, paper mills, and chemical
plants.
Increased lung disease and
breathing problems for
asthmatics. Reacts in the
atmosphere to form acid rain.
Can also harm vegetation and
metals. The pollutants it
produces can impair visibility
and acidify lakes and streams.
Reduce the use of high sulfur fuels
(e.g., use low sulfur reformulated
diesel or natural gas). Conserve
energy.
Sulfates
Produced by reaction in the air of
SO2 (see SO2 sources); a
component of acid rain.
Breathing difficulties,
aggravates asthma. Reduced
visibility.
Reduce the use of high sulfur fuels
(e.g., use low sulfur reformulated
diesel or natural gas). Conserve
energy.
Hydrogen Sulfide
(H2S)
Geothermal power plants,
petroleum production and refining,
sewer gas.
Nuisance odor (rotten egg
smell), headache and breathing
difficulties (in higher
concentrations)
Control emissions from
geothermal power plants,
petroleum production and refining,
sewers, sewage treatment plants.
Air Toxics
Chemical plants, industrial
processes, motor vehicle emissions
and fuels, and building materials.
Known or suspected to cause
cancer, respiratory effects, birth
defects, and reproductive and
other serious health effects.
Some can cause death or
serious injury if accidentally
released in large amounts.
Control motor vehicle and
industrial emissions.
Colorless gas, odorless at
low concentrations but
pungent at very high
concentrations.
(Hazardous Air
Pollutants or HAPs)
Information compiled from EPA 450-K-92-002 and http://www.arb.ca.gov/
Revised 10/10/07_pe
Pollutant
Sources
Effects
Prevention and Control
Greenhouse Gases
The main man-made source of
carbon dioxide emissions is fossil
fuel combustion for energy use and
transportation. Methane comes
from landfills, cud-chewing
livestock, coal mines, and rice
paddies. Nitrous oxide results
from industrial processes, such as
nylon fabrication.
The effects of climate change
on human health and the
environment could include
increased global temperature,
increased severity and
frequency of storms and other
“weather extremes,” melting of
the polar ice cap, sea level rise,
and the spread of parasites and
diseases.
Thorough examination of energy
usage at factories and offices and
the promotion of energy-saving
devices and behaviors.
Industrial and household
refrigeration, cooling and cleaning
processes, car and home air
conditioners, some fire
extinguishers, and plastic foam
products.
Increased exposure to UV
radiation could potentially
cause an increase in skin cancer
and cataract cases, suppression
of the human immune response
system, and environmental
damage.
Phasing out the production and use
of stratospheric ozone depleters.
Gases that build up in the
atmosphere and may induce
global climate change. They
include carbon dioxide,
methane and nitrous oxide.
Stratospheric
Ozone Depleters
Chemicals such as
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs,
Freon), halons, carbon
tetrachloride, and methyl
chloroform that are used in
refrigerants and other
industrial processes.
* Respirable Particulate Matter
Solid matter or liquid droplets from smoke, dust, fly ash, and condensing vapors that can be suspended in the air for long periods of time
Information compiled from EPA 450-K-92-002 and http://www.arb.ca.gov/
Revised 10/10/07_pe