June 2009
Front Matter
Training
11
What Are Air Toxics? (2 of 2)
•Most air toxics originate from anthropogenic sources, including
–mobile sources (e.g., cars, trucks, buses),
–stationary sources (e.g., factories, refineries, power plants), and
–indoor sources (e.g., some building materials and cleaning solvents).
•Some air toxics are emitted by natural sources (e.g., volcanic eruptions and forest fires).
•EPA is working with state, local, and tribal governments to reduce air toxics releases to the environment.
EPA has issued rules covering over 80 categories of major industrial sources, such as chemical plants, oil refineries, aerospace manufacturers, and steel mills, as well as categories of smaller sources, such as dry cleaners, commercial sterilizers, secondary lead smelters, and chromium electroplating facilities.
EPA and state governments (e.g., California) have reduced emissions of benzene, toluene, and other air toxics from mobile sources by requiring the use of reformulated gasoline and placing limits on tailpipe emissions.