This chapter explains the health risks associated with air pollutants commonly found near airports, including both criteria pollutants like carbon monoxide, lead, and particulate matter, and hazardous air pollutants like volatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. It describes how these pollutants can cause a range of health effects, from mild irritation to serious conditions such as respiratory disease, cardiovascular illness, and cancer. Smaller particulate matter is highlighted as a particular concern near airports, as it can penetrate deeper into the lungs and occurs at higher concentrations near aircraft operations.Open full document
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Chapter 4 of a National Academies of Sciences report providing a primer on air pollutant health impacts and risks related to airports. The chapter covers the six criteria pollutants (CO, Lead, NO2, O3, PM, and SO2) and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) including VOCs, aldehydes, ketones, and PAHs. It explains health effects ranging from mild symptoms to premature death and describes how particulate matter of different sizes penetrates the human respiratory system.