Nevada Division of Environmental Protection
  State of Nevada
Division of Environmental Protection
  Bureau of Air Quality Planning
  901 So. Stewart St., Suite 4001 • Carson City, NV 89701
Phone: (775) 687-9349 • FAX: (775) 687-6396
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Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Program - Pollutants of Concern

The principal ambient air pollutants, based on public health concerns, have been identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as "criteria" pollutants. The EPA established National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for these criteria pollutants. The standards of quality for ambient air in Nevada differ from EPA's and shall not be exceeded. Detailed information on each criteria pollutant may be found on EPA's criteria pollutant website.

Notes:

  • A: The Director shall use the Nevada standards in considering whether to issue a permit for a stationary source and shall ensure that the stationary source will not cause the Nevada standards to be exceeded in areas where the general public has access.
  • B: These standards, other than for ozone, particulate matter, and those based on annual averages, must not be exceeded more than once per year. The 1-hour ozone standard is attained when the expected number of days per calendar year with a maximum hourly average concentration above the standard is equal to or less than one. The PM10 24-hour standard is attained when the expected number of days per calendar year with a 24-hour average concentration above the standard, rounded to the nearest 10 µg/m3, is equal to or less than one. The expected number of days per calendar year is generally based on an average of the number of times the standard has been exceeded per year for the last 3 years. The National standards are to be used in determinations of attainment or nonattainment.
  • C: Where applicable, concentration is expressed first in units in which it was adopted. All measurements of air quality that are expressed as mass per unit volume, such as micrograms per cubic meter, must be corrected to a reference temperature of 25 degrees Centigrade and a reference pressure of 760 mm of Hg (1,013.2 millibars); “ppm” in this table refers to parts per million by volume, or micromoles of regulated air pollutant per mole of gas; “µg/m3” refers to micrograms per cubic meter.
  • D: Any reference method specified in accordance with 40 C.F.R. Part 50 or any reference method or equivalent method designated in accordance with 40 C.F.R. Part 53 may be substituted.
  • E: National primary standards are the levels of air quality necessary, with an adequate margin of safety, to protect the public health.
  • F: National secondary standards are the levels of air quality necessary to protect the public welfare from any known or anticipated adverse effects of a regulated air pollutant.
  • G: The ambient air quality standard for hydrogen sulfide does not include naturally occurring background concentrations.