Air Quality Monitor
A regulatory or research instrument, usually fixed at a known location, that continuously measures concentrations of specific air pollutants to determine compliance with standards like NAAQS.
Related terms
National Ambient Air Quality Standards Federal standards set by the EPA that establish the maximum allowable levels of six common air pollutants (the criteria pollutants) considered harmful to public health and the environment. Criteria Pollutants The six common air pollutants regulated under NAAQS: ground-level ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, lead, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Non-Attainment Area A strict legal designation used by the EPA for an area where measured air quality is worse than the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Industries operating in these areas face stricter emission regulations.