National Ambient Air Quality Standards
NAAQS
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.
Related terms
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. Environmental Protection Agency The U.S. federal agency responsible for setting and enforcing pollution standards for air, water, and soil, and for regulating hazardous chemicals. Legal Limit The maximum amount of a pollutant or contaminant that government regulators (like the EPA) allow in air, drinking water, or soil before the area or supply is considered out of compliance with the law. 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.