Measure E3: Long-Term Exposure to Criteria Air Pollutants

Graph for Measure E3a

In 1993, on average, children experienced a concentration of 28 µg/m³ of PM-10, which represents 56 percent of the annual standard. By 2007, the concentration had fallen to 52 percent of that level. Note, however, that the PM-10 annual standard was revoked in 2006. From 1993-2007, between 51 and 67 percent of children lived in counties with monitoring stations for PM-10.
In 1993, on average, children experienced a concentration of 0.02 parts per million of nitrogen dioxide, which represents 42 percent of the annual standard. By 2007, this percentage had fallen to 28 percent of the standard. During these years, between 41 and 46 percent of children lived in counties with monitoring stations for nitrogen dioxide.
In 1993, on average, children living in counties with monitoring stations experienced a concentration of 0.006 parts per million of sulfur dioxide, which represents 19 percent of the annual standard. By 2007, this percentage had fallen to 9 percent of the standard. During these years, between 43 and 51 percent of children lived in counties with monitoring stations for sulfur dioxide.
In 1999, on average, children living in counties with monitoring stations experienced a concentration of 14.6 parts per million of PM-2.5, which represents 97 percent of the annual standard. By 2007, this percentage had declined to 80 percent of the standard. During these years, between 61 and 72 percent of children lived in counties with monitoring stations for PM-2.5.

Number of children living in counties with high annual averages of PM-10

In 2007, about 5 million children experienced an average PM-2.5 concentration above the annual standard, down from about 19 million children in 1999 and 20 million children in 2000.
In 2007, about 27 million children experienced a relatively high average concentration of PM-2.5 (greater than 80 percent of the annual standard), down from about 31 million children in 1999 and 36 million children in 2000.
The PM-10 annual mean standard, 50 µg/m³, was revoked in 2006.
In 2007, about 720,000 children experienced an average PM-10 concentration above the previous annual standard, compared with about 34,000 in 1993, about 474,000 in 1994 and about 13,000 in 2006.
In 2007, about 2 million children experienced a relatively high average concentration of PM-10 (greater than 80 percent of the previous annual standard), down from nearly 4 million children in 1993, although up from about 800,000 children in 2004.

Measures:

Outdoor Air Pollutants

Indoor Air Pollutants

Drinking Water Contaminants

Pesticide Residues

Land Contaminants