National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) Clean Air Act requires EPA to set National Ambient Air

Quality Standards for pollutants considered harmful to public health and the environment

Clean Air Act Identifies two types of national ambient air quality standards

1. Primary Standards: provide public health protection, including protecting the health of "sensitive" populations such as asthmatics, children, and the elderly.

2. Secondary Standards: provide public welfare protection, including protection against decreased visibility and damage to animals, crops, vegetation, and buildings.

EPA has set National Ambient Air Quality Standards for six principal pollutants, which are called "criteria" pollutants

Carbon monoxide, Lead, Nitrogen dioxide, Particulate Matter, Ozone, Sulfur dioxide

Units of measure for the standards are parts per million (ppm) by volume, parts per billion (ppb) by volume, and micrograms per cubic meter of air (µg/m3).

Carbon monoxide Cause harmful health effects by reducing oxygen delivery

to the body's organs (like the heart and brain) and tissues. At extremely high levels, CO can cause death

Lead Can adversely affect the nervous system, kidney

function, immune system, reproductive and developmental systems and the cardiovascular system

Nitrogen dioxide Adverse respiratory effects including airway

inflammation in healthy people and increased respiratory symptoms in people with asthma

Ozone

Permanent lung damage with repeated exposures

Particulate Matter

Respiratory damage, lung disease

Sulfur dioxide

Respiratory effects including bronchitis and increased asthma symptoms

In an average year, a typical coal plant generates:

10,000 tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2), which forms small airborne particles that can penetrate deep into lungs.

500 tons of small airborne particles, which can cause chronic bronchitis, aggravated asthma, and premature death, as well as haze obstructing visibility.

10,200 tons of nitrogen oxide (NOx), NOx leads to formation of ozone (smog) which inflames the lungs, burning through lung tissue making people more susceptible to respiratory illness.

720 tons of carbon monoxide (CO), which causes headaches and place additional stress on people with heart disease.

220 tons of hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds (VOC), which form ozone.

170 pounds of mercury, which can make fish unsafe to eat.

225 pounds of arsenic, which will cause cancer

114 pounds of lead

http://www.epa.gov/air/criteria.html

http://breathecleanair.org/index.php/what/category/outdoor-air

http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/coalvswind/c02c.html