United States Environmental Protection Agency 2005 National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) NEW ENGLAND c.EPA The cancer risk map represents the summation of outdoor air inhalation risks of carcinogens. It does not include all pollutants or exposure estimates from other pathways. EPA also assessed public health risks for other health effects, such as asthma, that may result from exposure to these hazardous air pollutants. New England continues to be a region impacted by air toxic emissions generated by mobile sources, local area sources, as well as industrial and natural sources. The NATA modeling of ambient air concentrations typically estimates lower concentrations than actual monitoring results for many pollutants. Air Toxics of Greatest Concern in New England • State average risk values of five air toxics: acetaldehyde, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, formaldehyde and polycyclic organic matter (POM) exceeded health benchmarks in every state in New England, and state average risk values of five air toxics: 1, 3-butadiene, acrolein, arsenic compounds, chromium compounds and naphthalene exceeded health benchmarks in at least one state in New England. • Mobile sources represent a significant emission category for acrolein, acetaldehyde, benzene, 1,3-butadiene, diesel particu- late, formaldehyde and naphthalene. • Combustion sources represent a significant emission category for acrolein, acetaldehyde, arsenic and chromium compounds, naphthalene, and POM. This includes emissions from electric utility boilers, industrial boilers, as well as residential wood stoves and fireplaces. • Background sources, including natural sources, unidentified sources, and long-range transport, account for significant ambi- ent air concentration estimates for 1,3-butadiene, arsenic and chromium compounds, benzene, and carbon tetrachloride. • Atmospheric transformation accounts for significant ambient air concentration estimates for acetaldehyde, acrolein and formaldehyde. New and Continuing Actions to Reduce Risks • Implementing stationary source air toxics standards • Improving monitoring and emission inventories • Requiring c eaner gasoline and tightening tail pipe stan- dards • Funding community comprehensive risk reduction proj- ects under programs such as Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) • Expanding diesel reduction initiatives • Promoting energy efficiency • Providing pollution prevention assistance to sources • Implementing the National Collision Repair Campaign • Encouraging voluntary and regulatory efforts to address wood smoke emissions For more information: www.epa.gov/region1/airtox/index.html ------- |