What are toxic air pollutants?
Toxic air pollutants (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 to cause adverse environmental effects. The degree to which a toxic air pollutant affects an individual’s health depends on many factors, including the quantity, duration, and frequency of exposures, the toxicity of the chemical, and the individual’s personal susceptibility. Under the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, EPA is required to address 188 toxic air pollutants.
