What Does
Non-Criteria Pollutants Mean?
Six criteria air pollutants are covered by NAAQS, a further list of 189 pollutants are listed as Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) in the Clean Air Act. All pollutants not classified as criteria air pollutants can be said to be non-criteria pollutants. Non-criteria pollutants include benzene, dioxins and pesticides.
Safeopedia Explains Non-Criteria Pollutants
Standards for permissible levels of the six criteria pollutants are set out in NAAQS, but other pollutants are less prevalent in the environment. However, these non-criteria pollutants include various hazardous substances that can be a danger to human health. Health risks include cancer, lung damage and damage to the nervous, reproductive and immune systems. Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals are two important categories of non-criteria pollutants.