Air Toxics

Air Toxics is a generic term referring to a harmful chemical or group of chemicals in the air. Substances that are especially harmful to health, such as those considered under U.S. EPA's hazardous air pollutant program or California's AB 1807and/or AB 2588 air toxics programs, are considered to be air toxics.

Technically, any compound that is in the air and has the potential to produce adverse health effects is an air toxic.

California has always been a leader in protecting the environment and the health and welfare of its citizens. Many people in California are concerned about the health risks of toxic air pollutants. In response to this concern, the California State Legislature passed The Air Toxics "Hot Spots" Information and Assessment Act of 1987, and amended the Act in 1992. There are four main purposes of this legislation:

To identify the amount of toxic substances emitted into the air by specific businesses;
To estimate potential adverse health effects for members of the public exposed to these toxic air pollutants;
To inform the public of these toxic air emissions and the associated health impacts; and
To protect the public health by reducing toxic air emissions from businesses.

Our Air Toxics Program

The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) is required to oversee implementation of this legislation. Through the Air Toxics "Hot Spots" Program, affected businesses, with assistance from the APCD, determine air toxic emissions. Businesses which release considerable amounts of toxic air pollutants are required to estimate public health risks associated with these emissions by performing a risk assessment. The APCD then oversees public notification and risk reduction programs required for businesses that pose a significant risk.

For More Information

If you have additional questions, please call the APCD's Air Toxics Section, (805) 961-8800, or email apcd@sbcapcd.org.

Air Toxics Control Measures (ATCMs)

ATCMs are issued by the state and implemented or adopted by APCD. For more information on these measures, see this page.

Links

US EPA: Hazardous Air Pollutants/Unified Air Toxics WebSite Basic Facts, Pollutants and Sources, Technical Resources.

US EPA: Unified Air Toxics WebSite Health Effects Notebook for Hazardous Air Pollutants Fact sheets and additional information on effects on human health of substances that are defined as hazardous by the 1990 amendments of the Clean Air Act.

California Air Resources Board Air Toxics Program General Information on state's air toxics program.

California Air Resources Board Air Toxics Program Current Activities Newly identified pollutants, control measures and other current activities.

Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment OEHHA is responsible for conducting health risk assessments of chemical contaminants in air and developing risk assessment guidance.

OEHHA's Guide to Understanding Health Risk Assessments This document provides a basic explanation of risk assessment for laypeople involved in environmental health issues, including policymakers, businesspeople, members of community groups, news reporters, and others with an interest in the potential health effects of toxic chemicals.

"Hot Spots" Fee Table and Flow Chart Use this link to determine a facility's state fee. Annual state fees are based on risk and size of the facility. "Hot Spots" fee categories, complexities, fee amounts, and description of each risk category are shown on this link.

California Air Toxic Emission Factors (CATEF) Search Use ARB's database to search for air toxic emission factors.

Health Hazards for Airborne Latex Particles Provides latex allergy information.

For a directory of other "Links" pages on this site, see Our Air Quality/Links.

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