A collection of websites where you can learn more about air regulations and standards.
The following web sites are available for the general public to query for more information regarding how ambient air parameters and their respective standards are determined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Information involving weather and the earth's physical environment also play a large role in air quality programs as well as climate changes. EPA also works with scientists and policy makers from all over the world. A large number of these sites are also included, although this is not an all inclusive list.
In Albuquerque and for the County of Bernalillo, The City of Albuquerque, Environmental Health Department's Air Quality Division (AQD) is delegated to enforce and implement EPA regulations. Information about the AQD can be found on the AQD website, including regulations, permitted sources, programs, and ambient air monitoring data. Albuquerque air quality monitoring data can also be viewed on EPA's Air Data website.
Ambient Air Quality And Public Health Policy Development
EPA, through a multi-tiered process establishes Air Quality standards to protect public health. The Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) is an independent board of experts that reviews data and research, and offers scientific and technical advice on the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
CASAC recommendations are based on studies and data analysis, and follow U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) risk assessment guidelines. Other risk tools include Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF)
The CASAC (along with other advisory committees) reports to the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) . Members-of and consultants-to the Board consist of distinguished scientists, engineers, and economists who are recognized, non-governmental experts in their respective fields. These individuals are drawn from academia, industry, and environmental communities throughout the United States and, in some limited cases, other countries. The SAB, in turn, advises the EPA Administrator on a broad range of scientific, technological, social and economic issues. Regulations are ultimately proposed through a public process, allowing input from all affected parties, including the public.
EPA Health Development and Resources
- The Plain English Guide to the Clean Air Act
- AirNOW - Quality of Air Means Quality of Life
- Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC)
- Science Advisory Board (SAB)
- National Center For Environmental Research (NCER)
- National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA)
- National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL)
- Health and Environmental Effects Research (NHEERL)
- National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL)
- Human Exposure & Atmospheric Sciences (HEASD)
- National Advisory Committee (NAC)
- Ambient Monitoring Technology Information Center - Public Forum
- Evaluating Exposures to Toxic Air Pollutants: A Citizen's Guide
- Mobile Source Air Toxics
- 1999 National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment
- Envirofacts Data Warehouse
- America's Children and the Environment (ACE)
- Environmental Justice
- Air Pollution Distance Learning Network
CDC Health Development and Resources
- What You Should Know About the Flu
- NCEH in Partnership with New Mexico
- Urban Planning for Healthy Places
- Respiratory Health & Air Pollution
- Air Pollution and Respiratory Health
- Emergency Preparedness & Response
- Environmental Hazards and Health Effects
- Environmental Public Health Indicators
- National Environmental Public Health Tracking Program
- Radiation (includes Radon) Studies
- National Center for Health Statistics - FastStats A to Z
- Public Health Information Network (PHIN)
- Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
- Health Studies
- CDC Wonder WONDER provides a single point of access to a wide variety of reports and numeric public health data.
- Other Resources
Health Effects Institute (HEI)
HEI is a nonprofit corporation chartered in 1980 as an independent research organization to provide high-quality, impartial, and relevant science on the health effects of air pollution. Typically, HEI receives half of its core funds from the US Environmental Protection Agency and half from the worldwide motor vehicle industry. Other public and private organizations periodically support special projects or certain research programs.
- Publications Database
- Internet-based Health and Air Pollution Surveillance System (IHAPSS)
- The National Morbidity, Mortality, and Air Pollution Study
National Library of Medicine (NLM)
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
- Office on Womens Health (OWH)
- Office of Minority Health (OMHRC)
- Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS)
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
- Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB)
- National Health Information Infrastructure (NHII)
- National Health Information Center (NHIC)
Indoor Air Quality And Worker's Health/Exposure Policy Development
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulates air quality in the workplace, using standards that are different from those applicable to the general public.
For toxic substances, public exposure levels are compared to Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGLs) developed by another of EPA's advisory committees, the National Advisory Committee for Acute Exposure Guideline Levels for Hazardous Substances. Similarly, the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) develops exposure levels called Emergency Response Planning Guidelines (ERPGs).
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- Climate Program Office (CPO)
- Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL)
- Weather and Air Quality
- Understanding Air Quality
US Climate Change Science Program
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
- The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Online Resources
US Forest Service (USFS) Air Resource Management
US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Air Quality Research
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
- Planning, Environment, & Realty (HEP)
- Air Quality
- Transportation Conformity
- Mobile Source Air Toxics
- Particulate Matter (PM) Program
Science.gov Search Engine
National Atlas Environmental Resources
American Lung Association (ALA) Outdoor Air Quality Resources
State of New Mexico Department of Health Resources
NM State Department of Health Home
University of New Mexico Institute for Public Health
University of California - Davis (UCDavis) Air Quality Research
California Air Resources Board (ARB)
European Union
European Environment Agency (EEA)
European Environment and Health Committee (EEHC)
World Health Organization (WHO) Outdoor Air Quality Resources
- Public health and environment - Air quality guidelines
- Healthy environments for healthy people
- Public health and environment health topics
- Air quality and health
- Health Impact Assessment Methods and Strategies
- Air quality health impact assessment software AirQ2.2
- Health effects of transport-related air pollution
