POLLUTANT: Carbon Monoxide (CO)
DESCRIPTION: Colorless, odorless, tasteless gas
EFFECTS: Interferes with the blood's ability to carry oxygen. Headache, dizziness, suffocation.
MAIN SOURCES: Motor vehicle exhaust. Incomplete combustion of fossil fuel.
CONTROLS: Better combustion, tune-ups, fewer cars, better traffic flow, engine modification.
HEALTH STANDARD: 1-hour average: 35 ppm* (40 mg/m³); 8-hour average: 9 ppm (10 mg/m³)
ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARD: Same as health (primary) standard.

POLLUTANT: Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂)
DESCRIPTION: Yellowish to reddish brown pungent gas, depending on concentration
EFFECTS: Respiratory irritant, increases susceptibility to respiratory disease. Acid rain.
MAIN SOURCES: Motor vehicle exhaust; combustion of fossil fuel.
CONTROLS: Reduce combustion temperature in cars; catalytic converters. Smokestack controls. HEALTH STANDARD: 12 month average: 0.05 ppm (100 ug/m³)
ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARD: Same as health standard.

POLLUTANT: Ozone (O₃)
DESCRIPTION: Gas, odorous at high concentrations.
EFFECTS: Eye, nose, throat, irritant; decreases lung function. Decreases resistance to some infections. Vegetation and materials damage.
MAIN SOURCES: Not emitted: formed in air by chemical reaction of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides in sunlight.
CONTROLS: Reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides from vehicles and industry. Vapor recovery.
HEALTH STANDARD: Maximum daily 1 - hour average: .12 ppm (1.5 ug/m³)
ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARD: Same as health standard.

POLLUTANT: Lead (Pb)
DESCRIPTION: Small particles suspended in air.
EFFECTS: Accumulates in bone. When released to blood, causes neurologic damage.
MAIN SOURCES: Industrial processes. Fugitive dust (e.g. lead paint). Old plumbing. Lead in gasoline (nearly eliminated).
CONTROLS: Industrial pollution control. Remove old lead pain, replace plumbing, and eliminate new uses.
HEALTH STANDARD: 3-month arithmetic mean: 1.5 ug/m³
ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARD: Same as health standard.

POLLUTANT: Sulfur dioxide (SO₂)
DESCRIPTION: Pungent gas.
EFFECTS: Eye, nose, throat irritant; decreases lung function. Acid rain. Materials damage.
MAIN SOURCES: Combustion of fossil fuels (motor vehicles, power plants burning high sulfur coal). Petroleum refining. Ore smelting.
CONTROLS: Lower sulfer content of fuels. Scrubbers and pollution control technology.
HEALTH STANDARD: 24-hour average: 0.14 ppm (365 ug/m³); 12 month average: 0.03 ppm (80 ug/m³)
ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARD: 3-hour average: 0.5 ppm (1300 ug/m³)

POLLUTANT: Particulate matter (PM-10)
DESCRIPTION: Suspended solid less than 10 microns in diameter.
EFFECTS: Carry toxins adhered to surface deep into the lungs. Reduced visibility.
MAIN SOURCES: Combustion process. Diesel motors. Incineration. Industry and construction.
CONTROLS: Better combustion. Control technology. Decrease use of coal. Diesel engine maintenance.
HEALTH STANDARD: 12-month arithmetic mean: 50 ug/m³; 24-hour average: 150 ug/m³
ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARD: Same as health standard.

* ppm means parts per million

SOURCE: Stansfield, 1988, "Air Pollution in New Jersey." Union: American Lung Association of New Jersey