Air toxics are a group of air pollutants known or suspected to cause risk for serious
health problems. Serious health effects include cancer and birth defects, as well
as lung, immune system and nerve damage.
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Air Toxic |
Source |
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Diesel Particulate Matter |
Diesel-fueled on-road and non-road mobile sources
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Wood Smoke Particulate Matter |
The burning of wood, either in outdoor fires or indoor fireplaces and wood stoves
Chromium Chrome electroplaters, combustion of distillate oil and on-road and non-road
mobile sources Benzene On-road and non-road mobile sources, wood burning and other
combustion
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Carbon Tetrachloride |
Historically used as a solvent. No longer used commercially, but is a small by-product
in sewage treatment plants Arsenic Combustion of distillate oil and combustion of
chromium copper arsenate (CCA)-treated wood Chloroform Water treatment plants and
reservoirs
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1,3-Butadiene |
On-road and non-road mobile sources, wood burning and other combustion Acetaldehyde
On-road and non-road mobile sources, wood burning and other combustion
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Tetrachloroethylene (commonly known as ‘perc’) |
Dry cleaners
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Definitions |
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On-road mobile sources |
Includes cars, trucks, buses and motorcycles |
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Non-road mobile sources |
Includes cars, trucks, buses and motorcycles |
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Wood burning |
Includes burning wood indoors in fireplaces and wood stoves as well as outside (for
example, land-clearing, yard debris or agricultural burning.) |
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How do air toxics impact health?
Did you know?
Adults breathe an average of 3,000 gallons of air a day.
Air toxics are associated with a broad range of health effects, including cancer.
Because air toxics are primarily inhaled, many adverse health effects involve the
respiratory system. Some studies have linked air toxics to asthma, a widespread
respiratory disease. Other respiratory effects include lung inflammation, coughing,
wheezing and reduced lung function. The cardiovascular, neurological, reproductive
and immunological systems can also be affected by various air toxics.
People are affected differently by exposure to air toxics. Children, the elderly,
pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems or illnesses are especially
susceptible.
Some air toxics are persistent and bio-accumulative, meaning they build up in the
food chain and result in higher exposures with relatively lower concentrations.
Local Air Toxics Monitoring
The Polk County Air Quality Division currently monitors for air toxics at the Carpenter
Health Department monitoring site.