User:Joannaucsd/National Ambient Air Quality Objectives

The NAQOs were made with the intention to protect the general population as well as the environment from the harm of bad air quality. The executive summary of the National Ambient Air Quality Objectives states the effect of air pollutants on the environment include less than desired growth conditions for vegetation and the adverse health effects on people include an increased risk of death and lung disease. One recognized pollutant is carbon monoxide, CO, which the NAAQOs have set the desired levels as previously mentioned. For CO, the maximum desirable level over one hour is 13 ppm and 5 ppm over eight hours, the maximum acceptable level is 30 ppm over one hour and 13 ppm over eight hours, and finally the maximum tolerable level is 17.4 ppm over eight hours. For other pollutants, such as sulphur dioxide, SO2, the levels are also described as reported by McKitrick and Aliakbari.

The standards are also described on the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) website titled "Canada's Air" along with other graphical data that show air pollution trends in the country. Since the objectives must be subject to a scientific assessment there are many studies done on air pollutants in the Canadian region such as one study done in the Vancouver area that measures the sensitivity of ozone to nitrous oxide or volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Furthermore, in an archived report some considerations offered were to focus on a 24 hour range rather than the peak exposure times as some of the data suggests. It also mentions that it is wise to keep in mind that the data described varies by region so the levels could be different in multiple areas depending on their own lifestyles.