Vermont has national (federal) and state air quality standards for many pollutants. Standards are based on the levels above which the pollutants can cause adverse health effects in humans. The United States EPA requires each state to monitor the levels of six "criteria" pollutants: carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, airborne lead particles, and total atmospheric particles. Of these, levels of ozone and atmospheric particles (AKA dust or fine particulates) are of concern in the Burlington area. See the table below for more information.
The Vermont Air Pollution Control Division monitors these six along with many other pollutants in accordance with the state’s Hazardous Ambient Air Standards. In Burlington, a number of pollutants exceed the state standards including benzene, 1,3-butadiene, carbon tetrachloride, methylene chloride, chloroform, formaldehyde, tetrachloroethylene, methyl chloride, and 1,2,4-trimethyl benzene.
For descriptions of the effects of various pollutants, see the air pollutant page.
The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources maintains an air monitor on S. Winooski Avenue in Burlington. Below is a summary of measurements of some criteria air pollutants for 2000.
