MULTIPOLLUTANT AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT: PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE

While not reflected directly in North American regulations, workers have long recognized the multipollutant nature of exposure to air pollution. Air quality governing rules address single "criteria pollutants" or airborne toxics (hazardous air pollutants) said to affect human and ecological health. Within this "single pollutant" framework, policies to reduce pollution have addressed emissions and air quality using ambient or emission standards without the complexities of multipollutant exposure. In 2004, the U.S. National Research Council (NRC) 1 found that the air quality management in the U.S. could be more effective and efficient if the multipollutant nature of pollution could be accounted for. In particular, achievement of U.S. air quality goals would be improved with a risk-and results-based paradigm. In principle, such an approach could be applied to both the Canadian and Mexico practices as well.