What is the difference between air pollutants and toxic air pollutants?
Toxic air pollutants (or Hazardous Air Pollutants, HAPs) are different from air pollutants. Air toxics are known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious heath effects, such as damage to respiratory or nervous systems. Toxic air pollutants may exist as particulate matter or as vapors (gases). Air toxics include metals, particles, and certain vapors from fuels and other sources. To find out more about toxic air pollutants visit the basic facts page .
