US EPA

6553457 

Technical Report 

EPA Report 

Integrated science assessment (ISA) for oxides of nitrogen: Health criteria (Final report, Jan 2016) 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency :: U.S. EPA 

2016 

Yes 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

Washington, DC 

EPA/600/R-15/068 

1148 

English 

https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/isa/recordisplay.cfm?deid=310879 

is supplemented by 1988303 Supplemental table S1-1. Epidemiologic studies of health effects not evaluated in the ISA for oxides for nitrogen

This final report provides the U.S. EPA’s evaluation and synthesis of the most policy-relevant science related to the health effects of gaseous oxides of nitrogen. It provides a critical part of the scientific foundation for the U.S. EPA’s decision regarding the adequacy of the current primary (health-based) national ambient air quality standards for nitrogen dioxide.

Oxides of nitrogen are one of six principal (or criteria) pollutants for which the U.S. EPA has established national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). For gaseous oxides of nitrogen, the NAAQS are specified in terms of nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The Clean Air Act requires the U.S. EPA to periodically review the scientific basis for these standards by preparing an ISA. These reviews play a significant role in the U.S. EPA’s commitment to ensuring a clean and healthy environment for the public. The Clear Air Scientific Advisory Committee, an independent panel of scientific experts mandated by Section 109(d) of the Clean Air Act, is charged with independent scientific review of the U.S. EPA’s air quality criteria.

This report is part of the Agency’s periodic review of the primary (health-based) NAAQS for NO2. Overall, findings integrated from previous and recent studies strengthen the conclusions from the previous NAAQS review, which was completed in 2010. The cumulative body of evidence indicates that short-term exposure to NO2 can cause respiratory effects, in particular, effects related to asthma exacerbation. Recent results also strengthen the evidence that the respiratory effects of short-term NO2 exposure are independent of the effects of many other traffic-related pollutants. There is now stronger evidence for a relationship between long-term exposure to NO2 and respiratory effects, particularly the development of asthma in children. Results suggest that short-term exposure to NO2 may be associated with cardiovascular effects and premature mortality and that long-term exposure may be associated with cardiovascular effects, diabetes, poorer birth outcomes, premature mortality, and cancer; however, it is uncertain whether NO2 exposure has an effect on these health outcomes that is independent from the effects of other traffic-related pollutants.