US EPA

Particulate matter and sulfur oxides are two of six major air pollutants regulated by National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) under the U.S. Clean Air Act. As mandated by the Clean Air Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must periodically review the scientific bases (or “criteria”) for the various NAAQS by assessing newly available scientific information on a given criteria air pollutant. This document, Air Quality Criteria for Particulate Matter and Sulfur Oxides, has been prepared in response to specific requirements of Section 108 of the Clean Air Act, as amended in 1977.

The document evaluates and assesses scientific information on the health and welfare effects associated with exposure to various concentrations of sulfur oxides and particulate matter in ambient air. The literature through 1980-81 has been reviewed thoroughly for information relevant to air quality criteria, although the document is not intended as a complete and detailed review of all literature pertaining to sulfur oxides and particulate matter. An attempt has been made to identify the major discrepancies in our current knowledge and understanding of the effects of these pollutants. Although this document is principally concerned with the health and welfare 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 document includes chapters that discuss the chemistry and physics of the pollutants; analytical techniques; sources; and types of emissions; environmental concentrations and exposure levels; atmospheric chemistry and dispersion modeling; acidic deposition; effects on vegetation; effects on visibility, climate, and materials; and respiratory, physiological, toxicological, clinical, and epidemiological aspects of human exposure.

This document is Volume II of a three-volume revision of Air Quality Criteria for Particulate Matter and Air Quality Criteria for Sulfur Oxides, first published in 1969 and 1970, respectively. By law, air quality criteria documents are the basis for establishment of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The Air Quality Criteria document of which this volume is a part has been prepared in response to specific requirements of Section 108 of the Clean Air Act, as amended in 1977. The Clean Air Act requires that the Administrator periodically review, and as appropriate, update and reissue criteria for NAAQS. To assist the reader in putting the effects into perspective with the real-world environment, Chapters 2 through 7 in the present volume (Volume II) have been prepared. The chapters of Volume II discuss essential points regarding: physical and chemical properties; air monitoring and analytical measurement techniques; sources and emissions; transport, transformation, and fate; and observed ambient concentrations of the pollutants. Also, Chapter 7 in this volume introduces the reader to the contemporary problem of acidic deposition and potential contributions of sulfur oxides to acidic deposition phenomena.

U.S. EPA. Air Quality Criteria for Particulate Matter and Sulfur Oxides (Final Report, 1982). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/8-82/029.

Full Volume Citations:

Air Quality Criteria for Particulate Matter and Sulfur Oxides (1982): Volume I. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/8-82/029A.

Air Quality Criteria for Particulate Matter and Sulfur Oxides (1982): Volume II. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/8-82/029B.

Air Quality Criteria for Particulate Matter and Sulfur Oxides (1982): Volume III. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/8-82/029CF.