IDEM OAQ's Air Toxics Program

IDEM’s Office of Air Quality (OAQ) is dedicated to ensuring that all Hoosiers breathe the healthiest air possible while still maintaining Indiana’s economic competitiveness. IDEM works to ensure that Indiana meets the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for six common air pollutants (known as criteria pollutants), which include carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), and sulfur dioxide. However air toxics are also an important, if less easily understood, aspect of air quality. U.S. EPA identifies numerous toxic air pollutants, also referred to as hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), and sets requirements for sources of air toxics to reduce harmful emissions.

IDEM’s Air Toxics Program has an important role in understanding health risks and environmental effects associated with air toxics in Hoosier communities and ensuring that Indiana is meeting its clean air goals. The Air Toxics Program analyzes air toxics monitoring data, utilizes air toxics models, tracks emissions inventories from all sources, and conducts studies and air risk assessments to protect public health and the environment.