Criteria air contaminants

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Criteria air contaminants (CAC) are a group of air pollutants that cause smog, acid rain and other health hazards. CACs include emissions of sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOC), carbon monoxide (CO), ammonia (NH3), and ground-level ozone (O3). CACs are emitted from a large number of sources in industry, mining, transportation, electricity generation and agriculture. In most cases they are the products of the combustion of fossil fuels or industrial processes.

Criteria air contaminants were the first set of pollutants recognized by the US Environmental Protection Agency as needing standards on a national level.

[edit] External links

• Environment Canada http://www.ec.gc.ca/cleanair-airpur/Pollutants/Criteria_Air_Contaminants_and_Related_Pollutants-WS7C43740B-1_En.htm