November 12, 2001—In a report recently released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), air quality trends for six major pollutants across the nation are going in the right direction, with the exception of slower progress for ozone and particulate matter.
The National Air Quality: 2000 Status and Trends Summary Report shows that since 1970, aggregate emissions of six principal pollutants tracked nationally have been cut 29 percent. The six pollutants tracked by the EPA are carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and ozone. The report is an annual assessment of data from state monitors compiled by the EPA to track the concentrations of these air pollutants regulated by national ambient air quality standards.
In addition to the release of this report, the EPA is expected to release a proposal that would reduce emissions of three major pollutants from power plants. For more information on BOMA and IAQ, visit BOMA’s IAQ Resource Center.
Based on a report from BOMA International
