US EPA

The second addendum to the Air Quality Criteria for Particulate Matter and Sulfur Oxides evaluates and assesses new scientific information that have emerged since 1982 and their implications for derivation of health-related criteria for particulate matter and sulfur oxides NAAQS. Accordingly, the present addendum; (1) concisely summarizes key findings from the 1982 EPA criteria document and first addendum as they pertain to derivation of health-related criteria; and (2) provides an updated assessment of newly available information of potential importance for derivation of health criteria for both the particulate matter and sulfur oxides standards, with major emphasis on evaluation of human health studies published since 1982. Certain background information of crucial importance for understanding the assessed health effects findings is also concisely summarized. This includes information on physical and chemical properties on particulate matter, sulfur oxides, and associated aerosols and ambient monitoring techniques.

This Addendum to the earlier 1982 U.S. EPA document, Air Quality Criteria for Particulate Matter and Sulfur Oxides, evaluates scientific information on health effects associated with exposure to various concentrations of sulfur oxides and particulate matter in ambient air. Although the literature through 1986 has been reviewed thoroughly for information relevant to air quality criteria, the present Addendum is not intended as a complete and detailed review of all literature pertaining to sulfur oxides and particulate matter. Rather, an attempt has been made to focus on the evaluation of those studies providing key information by which to delineate quantitative exposure—effect or dose- response relationships for the subject pollutants.

Although this Addendum is principally concerned with the health effects of sulfur oxides and particulate matter, other scientific data are presented and evaluated in order to provide a better understanding of these pollutants in the environment. To this end, the Addendum also includes discussions of physical and chemical properties of sulfur oxides and particulate matter; ambient air monitoring and related analytical techniques; and the respiratory tract deposition and fate associated with human exposure to the subject pollutants.

Although this Addendum is principally concerned with the health effects of sulfur oxides and particulate matter, other scientific data are presented and evaluated in order to provide a better understanding of these pollutants in the environment.

U.S. EPA. SECOND ADDENDUM TO AIR QUALITY CRITERIA FOR PARTICULATE MATTER AND SULFUR OXIDES (1982): ASSESSMENT OF NEWLY AVAILABLE HEALTH EFFECTS INFORMATION (1986). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/8-86/020F.