Hazardous Air Pollutants

Hazardous air pollutants or air toxics are those pollutants that are known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health effects, such as reproductive effects or birth defects, or adverse environmental effects. Air toxics may also cause adverse environmental and ecological effects. The presence of hazardous air pollutants in the air is more localized than are the criteria pollutants, and they are usually found at highest levels close to their sources. Examples of air toxic pollutants include benzene, found in gasoline; mercury, from coal combustion; perchloroethylene, emitted from some dry cleaning facilities; and methylene chloride, used as a solvent by a number of industries. Most air toxics originate from man-made sources, including mobile sources (e.g., cars, trucks, construction equipment), stationary sources (e.g., factories, refineries, power plants), and indoor sources (e.g., some buildings materials and cleaning solvents).

More information on hazardous air pollutants can be found at http://www.epa.gov/air/toxicair/index.html