Ambient air pollutants

Chemical compounds present in the atmosphere are considered ambient air pollutants when they occur in unnaturally high concentrations and have the potential to cause harm to the environment and human health.

The traditional air pollutants include SO₂, NO_x, CO, lead, particulate matter (PM) and VOCs.

Hazardous air pollutants include: metals and metalloids, such as cadmium, mercury and arsenic; respirable mineral fibres, such as asbestos and glass micro-fibres; inorganic gases, such as fluorides, chlorine, cyanide and phosgene; and organic compounds, such as aldehydes, aromatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and dioxins.

Click on the pictures to see which pollutants are emitted from stationary sources.

Health effects of air pollutants