Ecology and local clean air agencies monitor and track emissions to make sure levels of outdoor air pollutants meet federal and state air quality standards. We focus on EPA's "criteria" pollutants and other chemicals broadly known as air toxics. Our programs and strategies prevent air pollution from reaching levels that are unhealthy for people or the environment.
Criteria air pollutants
The federal Clean Air Act requires EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for six common air pollutants. We monitor these pollutants and take action if levels become unhealthy. The pollutants are:
EPA established a list of 187 hazardous air pollutants. We regulate over 430 toxic air pollutants from commercial and industrial sources. We prioritized 21 of those toxic air pollutants because of their health risk. To reduce levels of these priority pollutants, we are working to reduce diesel emissions and wood smoke.
Air toxics monitoring
We track air pollution throughout the state. Since 2000, we have been measuring air toxics at our Seattle Beacon Hill air quality monitoring station. By comparing long-term trends to current readings, we have determined that most toxic pollutant levels are declining. This shows that driving clean cars helps keep the air healthy.
We have also partnered with local clean air agencies to identify and monitor pollutants that are the greatest health risk. Reports from some of the studies include:
Air toxics monitoring — ethylene oxide
Recent research shows that air pollution from the chemical ethylene oxide is more common and more unhealthy than we previously thought. We are working with EPA, local clean air agencies, and environmental agencies in other states to figure out:
- Which sources emit ethylene oxide.
- Which communities may have more ethylene oxide air pollution.
- What can be done to reduce ethylene oxide emissions and protect people's health.