| Characteristic | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One or more pollutants | 74.9 | 76.1 | 76.3 | 75.9 | 77.4 | 73.8 | 75.9 | 72.9 | 74.4 | 69.2 | 58.6 |
| Pollutant | |||||||||||
| Carbon monoxide — 8-hour standard | 5.7 | 4.4 | 0.7 | 4.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Lead — 3-month standard | 2.3 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.2 |
| Nitrogen dioxide — 1-hour standard | 23.2 | 19.4 | 17.4 | 18.9 | 17.5 | 16.3 | 13.9 | 12.5 | 10.9 | 12.6 | 8.7 |
| Ozone — 8-hour standard | 65.2 | 64.9 | 66.3 | 66.1 | 67.8 | 61.6 | 66.2 | 65.3 | 64.1 | 59.2 | 48.9 |
| Particulate matter (PM2.5) — annual standard | 24.2 | 29.6 | 24.7 | 20.9 | 19.1 | 16.4 | 24.3 | 12.5 | 16.1 | 7.3 | 2.1 |
| Particulate matter (PM2.5) — 24-hour standard | 55.0 | 62.5 | 60.8 | 60.9 | 56.8 | 56.0 | 60.2 | 45.7 | 53.6 | 37.1 | 32.2 |
| Particulate matter (PM10) — 24-hour standard | 7.9 | 6.3 | 6.0 | 4.8 | 7.8 | 5.2 | 5.0 | 5.1 | 12.5 | 4.0 | 2.8 |
| Sulfur dioxide — 1-hour standard | 31.1 | 28.8 | 26.6 | 25.6 | 21.6 | 20.5 | 20.9 | 16.6 | 15.5 | 16.7 | 11.4 |
| NOTE: Percentages are based on the number of children living in counties where air pollution levels were higher than the level of a Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard. This analysis differs from the analysis utilized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the designation of "nonattainment areas" for regulatory compliance purposes. Data have been revised since previous publication in America's Children. Values have been recalculated based on updated data in the Air Quality System. This analysis incorporates the revised Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standards for nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide that were promulgated in 2010. For more information on the air quality standards that are used in calculating these percentages, please seehttp://www.epa.gov/air/criteria.html. | |||||||||||
| SOURCE: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air and Radiation, Air Quality System. | |||||||||||
