Mecklenburg County continues to meet federal, health- based standards for Nitrogen Dioxide, Sulfur Dioxide, and Carbon Monoxide. Under the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to protect human health from common outdoor pollutants. Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) is a highly reactive gas that forms from emissions from cars, trucks, power plants, and off-road equipment. Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) is another highly reactive gas that forms from power plants, industrial sources, and non-road equipment that combust fossil fuels with high sulfur content. Acid rain is primarily caused by NO2 and SO2. Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that comes from mobile sources like cars and trucks. Learn more about these pollutants.

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Air Quality Index - Mecklenburg County, NC NAAQS Compliance Value Converted to AQI 250 250 Very Unhealthy NO2 AQI SO2 AQI CO AQI

200 200 Unhealthy

150 150 Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

Air Quality Index Quality Air 100 100

Moderate

50 50

Good

AQI ≤ 100 complies with NAAQS (Attainment) 0 0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Find out more about the color-coded Air Quality Index used in this graph.

Downward trend in concentrations of NO2 and SO2 continues. Concentrations of CO have plateaued.

Mecklenburg County continues to demonstrate compliance with the NAAQS for NO2, SO2, and CO. Decreases in the concentration of these pollutants are due to federal regulation on vehicles and fuels and state regulations like the Clean Smokestacks Act, which drove the sharp decrease in SO2 emissions shown in the graph above.

Rev. 03/2021