Common Ambient Air Pollutants - SOURCES

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

incomplete combustion of fuel, combustion of waste, vehicle exhaust, boilers, furnaces, water heaters, wood stoves, fireplaces, gas stoves

Carbon Dioxide

Combustion of any organic material. Gasoline, petroleum, coal, natural gas, biomass, aerobic respiration

Tropospheric Ozone (O3)

NOx + VOCs + heat —> O3 + PM

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)

Combustion, vehicles, power plants and facories bruning fossil fuels

Sulfer Oxides (SOx)

combustion of coal or petroleum high in sulfur

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s)

Evaporation of fuel, uncombusted exhaust, paints, carpets, furniture, insulation, etc.

Peroxacyl Nitrates

transportation (created from ethanol fuels); more stable than ozone and capable of long range transport

Particulate Matter

construction sites, unpaved roads, fields smoke stacks, fires (10)

fireworks, power plants, industries, automobiles, volcanoes (2.5)

Radon

forms naturally in soils containing uranium (byproduct of U decay)

Asbestos

disturbed insulation due to renovation or damage

CFC’s

refrigerants, solvents, accelerates in aerosol cans, foam blowing agents, pesticides, halons (group 17 chemicals)

Lead (Pb)

exhaust fumes from leaded gasoline, metal smelting, paint, power plants burning fossil fuels

Mercury (Hg)

coal burning power plants