<p>In the USA there are two classifications of airborne pollutants. They are</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.epa.gov/criteria-air-pollutants" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Criteria Air Pollutants</a></li>
</ul>
<p>There are 6 separate air pollutants. These make the bulk of the regulation, especially for <a href="https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-clean-air-act" rel="nofollow noreferrer">the Clean Air Act</a>. Each pollutant has different standards to adhere to. Examples include lead, ozone, and particulate matter.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.epa.gov/haps/initial-list-hazardous-air-pollutants-modifications" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Hazardous Air pollutants</a></li>
</ul>
<p>This is a list of 187 pollutants. These are cancer-causing pollutants, but are usually in pretty low concentrations. Examples include asbestos, lead, and benzene.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-04T18:40:57.913Z
2020-10-04T18:40:57.913Z
BarocliniCplusplus
<p>In researching economic damage from various pollutants, I often find that it's very random sources that inform me of various pollutants I need to be mindful of in calculations. Is there any kind of overarching list of known problematic pollutants that one needs to consider in calculations for environmental factors?</p>
<p>For instance, you might have pesticides, heavy metal aerosols, heavy metal colloids and solutions, fertilizer runoff, sewage, etc. But, how do I know there aren't more? There must be some kind of standard list, maybe the European Union or one of the environmental agencies in North America has a list of pollution categories that damage the environment.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-04T19:57:32.113Z
It might also depend on the type of environment: air, land, water - land based (rivers, lakes, dams & wet lands) or  water - oceans. There also might be a time factor or usage element, as some pollutant degrade over time & no longer remain an issue. As for usage some pollutants may be used for a period of time & then discontinued, such as DDT, CFCs, PCBs, Pb from lead paints or tetraethyl lead. It would also depend on local factors. Radiation would be an issue around Fukushima, Chernobyl, ex Soviet submarine dumping ground, or nuclear reactors, but not in the Amazon, Sahara or Antarctica.
Fred
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-05T09:03:09.430Z
[Rural pollution](https://www.intechopen.com/books/chemistry-emission-control-radioactive-pollution-and-indoor-air-quality/air-quality-in-rural-areas) & urban pollution may involve different items. Rural: dust - from soil or grains, pesticides. [Water pollution](https://www.onlinebiologynotes.com/water-pollution-and-types-of-water-pollutants/). Consider [hazardous materials](https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/hazmat.html), [2](https://www.gsa.gov/buying-selling/purchasing-programs/requisition-programs/gsa-global-supply/supply-standards/hazardous-materials-management-hazmat)
Fred
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-06T12:42:14.757Z
When you deal with organic pollutants in the water, you might use the "Stockholm Convention" as a basis. In addition, you ave heavy metals (inorganic pollutants) and mercury (particularly methyl-mercury) in the water and in marine biota.
daniel.heydebreck
<water><air-pollution><environmental-protection><pollution>
Is there a conventional list of pollutants to consider for calculations? Or an updating one even?
JRRs
# Is there a conventional list of pollutants to consider for calculations? Or an updating one even?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-10-04)

In researching economic damage from various pollutants, I often find that it's very random sources that inform me of various pollutants I need to be mindful of in calculations. Is there any kind of overarching list of known problematic pollutants that one needs to consider in calculations for environmental factors?

For instance, you might have pesticides, heavy metal aerosols, heavy metal colloids and solutions, fertilizer runoff, sewage, etc. But, how do I know there aren't more? There must be some kind of standard list, maybe the European Union or one of the environmental agencies in North America has a list of pollution categories that damage the environment.

**Tags:** water, air-pollution, environmental-protection, pollution

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: It might also depend on the type of environment: air, land, water - land based (rivers, lakes, dams & wet lands) or  water - oceans. There also might be a time factor or usage element, as some pollutant degrade over time & no longer remain an issue. As for usage some pollutants may be used for a period of time & then discontinued, such as DDT, CFCs, PCBs, Pb from lead paints or tetraethyl lead. It would also depend on local factors. Radiation would be an issue around Fukushima, Chernobyl, ex Soviet submarine dumping ground, or nuclear reactors, but not in the Amazon, Sahara or Antarctica.  
> **username_1**: [Rural pollution](https://www.intechopen.com/books/chemistry-emission-control-radioactive-pollution-and-indoor-air-quality/air-quality-in-rural-areas) & urban pollution may involve different items. Rural: dust - from soil or grains, pesticides. [Water pollution](https://www.onlinebiologynotes.com/water-pollution-and-types-of-water-pollutants/). Consider [hazardous materials](https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/hazmat.html), [2](https://www.gsa.gov/buying-selling/purchasing-programs/requisition-programs/gsa-global-supply/supply-standards/hazardous-materials-management-hazmat)  
> **username_2**: When you deal with organic pollutants in the water, you might use the "Stockholm Convention" as a basis. In addition, you ave heavy metals (inorganic pollutants) and mercury (particularly methyl-mercury) in the water and in marine biota.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2020-10-04. Score: 1

In the USA there are two classifications of airborne pollutants. They are

* [Criteria Air Pollutants](https://www.epa.gov/criteria-air-pollutants)

There are 6 separate air pollutants. These make the bulk of the regulation, especially for [the Clean Air Act](https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-clean-air-act). Each pollutant has different standards to adhere to. Examples include lead, ozone, and particulate matter.

* [Hazardous Air pollutants](https://www.epa.gov/haps/initial-list-hazardous-air-pollutants-modifications)

This is a list of 187 pollutants. These are cancer-causing pollutants, but are usually in pretty low concentrations. Examples include asbestos, lead, and benzene.


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