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California Air Toxics Assessment

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The California Air Toxics Assessment (CATA) is an ongoing effort at the California Air Resources Board (CARB) that focuses on studying air toxics in California. It assesses exposure levels and related health risks arising from the inhalation of toxic air pollutants. CATA is a modeling-based health assessment that utilizes detailed emission data from CARB emission inventories, high-resolution meteorological data, and an innovative hybrid approach that integrates photochemical and dispersion air toxics modeling. CATA identifies areas of high exposure to air toxics, highlights major emission sources in communities, and draws attention to specific air toxic compounds that pose significant health threats.

CATA serves as a bridge between national-scale assessments like the United States Environmental Protection Agency's National Air Toxics Screening Assessment (AirToxScreen) and regional studies such as the South Coast Air Quality Management District's Multiple Air Toxics Exposure Study (MATES) and the Bay Area Air District's Community Air Risk Evaluation (CARE) program. CATA's data is collected both at the census block levels and on 2 km by 2 km grids, enabling assessments on statewide, regional, and local scales.

CATA provides invaluable insights and data for various California Air Resources Board (CARB) programs, including:

  • The Toxics Air Contaminant Identification and Control Act (AB 1807), which identifies and controls air toxics,
  • The Air Toxics "Hot Spots" Information and Assessment Act (AB 2588), which requires facilities to report emissions of specific air toxics and assess associated health risks,
  • The Community Air Protection Program (AB 617), which aims to identify communities disproportionately affected by toxic air pollutants and implement effective emission reduction measures.

Additionally, CATA supports the rulemaking process for Airborne Toxic Control Measures (ATCMs), quantifying the relative importance of pollution sources such as ocean-going vessels (OGVs) at berth, commercial harbor crafts (CHCs), gasoline stations, diesel truck regulations, and more.

CATA's efforts enhance the data available from CalEnvironScreen and complement existing air monitoring networks, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of air quality issues across California.