Spatial Scale - Short Range/Urban (1-5 km) Basic

Urban Air Toxics

(From EPA's Urban Air Toxics)

Reducing emissions of urban air toxics has been a priority for EPA since the passage of the Clean Air Act Amendments in 1990. In the last two decades we've seen significant reductions in urban air toxics as a result of EPA regulations and enforcement actions, as well as the implementation of state and local programs to address emissions from both mobile and stationary sources. Even with this progress, additional work remains to improve our understanding of urban air toxics and to effectively reduce remaining risks, particularly in overburdened communities.

Air toxics tend to pose greater risks in urban areas because these areas have large populations and a higher concentration of emission sources. Combined exposures from all sources of air pollution, including major stationary sources, smaller area sources, indoor sources and mobile sources can increase public health risks from air toxics. Low-income neighborhoods, tribal populations and communities of color that live in urban areas may be disproportionately exposed to air pollution, which is a barrier to economic opportunity and security.

Note prepared by P. Zannetti (1/2022). For corrections or expansions please contact us.