Sources of Air Pollution

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Air Pollution, Air Quality Monitoring, Health
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People at Risk, Exposure, Community Air Protection Program
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A number of air pollutants coming out of a variety of industrial processes, impact the health of California residents. Two of the pollutants of the greatest concern from a public health perspective are fine particulate matter and ozone. Sources of PM2.5 include direct emissions from combustion of fuels such as gasoline, oil and diesel as well as wood combustion. PM2.5 is also formed in atmospheric chemical reactions of precursors emitted from combustion sources including motor vehicles. Pollution from diesel engines is part of PM2.5 and of particular concern due to its health impacts. Ozone is one of the major constituents of smog and is formed in the atmosphere by complex reactions with chemicals that are directly emitted from motor vehicles and other combustion sources.

The table below shows some of the common pollutants found in our air and examples of some of the sources of these pollutants.

Pollutant

Examples of Sources

Particulate Matter
(PM2.5 and PM10: less than or equal to 2.5 or 10 microns, respectively)

  • Cars and trucks (especially diesels)
  • Fireplaces, woodstoves
  • Windblown dust from roadways, agriculture and construction

Ozone (O3)

  • Precursor sources1 : motor vehicles, industrial emissions, and consumer products

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

  • Any source that burns fuel such as cars, trucks, construction and farming equipment, and residential heaters and stoves

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

  • See carbon monoxide sources

Toxic Air Contaminants

  • Cars and trucks (especially diesels)
  • Industrial sources, such as chrome platers
  • Neighborhood businesses, such as dry cleaners and service stations
  • Building materials and products
  • 1Ozone is not generated directly by these sources. Rather, chemicals emitted by these precursor sources react with sunlight to form ozone in the atmosphere.

Related Resources

Community Air Protection Incentives Fact Sheet
Community Emission Reduction Program Approvals: Executive Orders
Non-Vehicular Diesel Engine Risk Assessment Guidance