Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA must set National Ambient Air Quality Standards for how many criteria pollutants?

Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA must set National Ambient Air Quality Standards for how many criteria pollutants?

• A. Six
• B. Four
• C. Eight
• D. Ten

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that the EPA sets National Ambient Air Quality Standards for six pollutants that are designated as criteria pollutants. These six are ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lead. The term “criteria pollutants” comes from Congress designating a specific list of pollutants for which national standards are established because they represent the major air quality concerns and have wide health and welfare impacts. The standards are designed to protect public health (primary standards) and welfare (secondary standards). Since there are six pollutants identified in the statute, the correct count is six, which is why the best answer is the six pollutants option. The other numbers don’t fit the statutory list of criteria pollutants.

The main idea is that the EPA sets National Ambient Air Quality Standards for six pollutants that are designated as criteria pollutants. These six are ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lead. The term “criteria pollutants” comes from Congress designating a specific list of pollutants for which national standards are established because they represent the major air quality concerns and have wide health and welfare impacts. The standards are designed to protect public health (primary standards) and welfare (secondary standards). Since there are six pollutants identified in the statute, the correct count is six, which is why the best answer is the six pollutants option. The other numbers don’t fit the statutory list of criteria pollutants.