Oregon Air Toxics Program

Updating Air Toxics Benchmarks

EQC adopts updated air toxics benchmark concentrations

The Environmental Quality Commission unanimously adopted a new benchmark concentration for ethyl benzene and more protective benchmarks for lead and manganese at its August 19, 2010 meeting. The benchmark for mercury was clarified but the value unchanged. In response to public comments, DEQ committed to consider shorter term benchmarks, in addition to the annual average benchmarks, and bring a recommendation to the commission sometime next year.

• Final Amended Rules

Overview

Air toxics are generally defined as air pollutants known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health problems. Air toxics include diesel soot, benzene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (tar-like by-products from auto exhaust and other sources), and metals including manganese, nickel, and lead. Air toxics come from a variety of sources including cars and trucks, all types of burning (including fireplaces and woodstoves), businesses, industries, and consumer products. Studies indicate that Oregonians are being exposed to a number of air toxics at potentially harmful levels.

The Oregon Air Toxics program coordinates DEQ activities aimed at reducing air toxics. These activities include establishing benchmarks and working with communities and local governments to create and implement air toxics reduction plans. The program also works with other DEQ programs that reduce air toxics including industrial permitting, vehicle inspections and vapor recovery at gasoline stations and terminals.

More Information

• Air Toxics Science Advisory Committee
• Benchmarks
• National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment
• Portland Air Toxics Solutions
• Monitoring for Toxics at Oregon Schools
• Frequently Asked Questions About Air Toxics in Oregon
• Benzene in Oregon's Air PDF
• Diesel, Biodiesel, Oregon Clean Diesel Initiative
• Asbestos Guidance and Resources

Publications

• Air Toxics Advisory Committee Report on establishing Oregon's Air Toxics Program, June 2002 PDF
• Air Toxics Program Rules including Ambient Benchmark Concentrations
• Technical Analysis Tools and Guidance for Implementation of the Air Toxics Program Internal Management Directive
• Policy and Implementation Guidance for the Oregon Air Toxics Program Internal Management Directive
• Air Toxics Benchmarks PDF

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