Reporting pollution. [Formulation of Pollutants Standards Index]
In all, state and local air pollution control agencies and the news media around the country use 44 different words to describe air quality. Not only is there a confusion of words to describe what are often comparable pollution levels, but the air quality report you hear is probably based on one of fourteen methods now used to calculate an air pollution index. The index, for instance, might take into account one pollutant, or it might include the five major air pollutants--carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, photochemical oxidants, and suspended particulates. The Federal Interagency Task Force set to work in 1975 to formulate the ''Pollutant Standards Index.'' The Pollutant Standards Index is a health-related index which includes carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, total suspended particulates, ozone (or photochemical oxidants), and nitrogen dioxide. Nine state agencies and 21 local agencies have adopted or are about to adopt the Pollution Standards Index. Some of the variations of pollution indexes used by newscasters are cited. (MCW)
- OSTI ID:
- 7061064
- Journal Information:
- Environment; (United States), Journal Name: Environment; (United States) Vol. 20:1; ISSN ENVTA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Uniform air pollution index
Guideline for public reporting of daily air quality: Pollutant Standards Index (PSI). Final report
Related Subjects
290300* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AEROSOLS
AIR POLLUTION
AIR QUALITY
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CLEAN AIR ACT
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
DOCUMENT TYPES
INDEXES
LAWS
MEASURING METHODS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
NITROGEN OXIDES
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDES
OXIDIZERS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION LAWS
POLLUTION REGULATIONS
REGULATIONS
SOLS
STANDARDS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
US EPA
US NBS
US ORGANIZATIONS
USA