The paper gives an overview of research activities in EPA's Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory, including the identification, assessment, and control of sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). VOCs, HAPs, and CFCs cause serious detrimental environmental effects, including human health effects, materials damage, and crop/forest losses resulting from tropospheric (or boundary layer) ozone concentrations which are too high, increased ultraviolet radiation reaching the surface of the Earth due to ozone depletion in the stratosphere, and exposures of human lung tissue (and other organs) to HAPs. EPA's Office of Air and Radiation has established a national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) of 0.12 ppm for ozone. This standard is routinely exceeded in more than 60 areas nationwide. This, coupled with the fact that some areas may not be able to attain the NAAQS for the next 20-30 years, causes serious concerns for human health and welfare. These concerns are heightened by the fact that some scientists are calling for an even more stringent ozone NAAQS. Health impacts from exposure to HAPs include neurological, behavioral, reproductive, and carcinogenic effects.

"Presented at Conference on Environmental Control '89, Clemson University, 2/14/89, Greenville, SC." "Wade H. Ponder, project officer." Includes bibliographical references. "EPA-600/D-89/022." Microfiche.