Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) for Carbon Monoxide
On this page:
- Overview
- History of ISAs for Carbon Monoxide
- Scientific Studies Considered in the ISA
- Additional Resources
Overview
The Integrated Science Assessment for Carbon Monoxide provides the U.S. EPA’s evaluation and synthesis of the most policy-relevant science related to the health and welfare effects of carbon monoxide (CO). Integrated Science Assessments (ISAs) are evaluations of the scientific information related to the human health and welfare effects of criteria pollutants. The ISAs provide a comprehensive evaluation and synthesis of the policy-relevant scientific literature, including that published since the last assessment, and serve as the scientific foundation for establishing and reviewing the primary (health-based) and secondary (welfare-based) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS).
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas emitted from combustion processes. Nationally, particularly in urban areas, the majority of CO emissions to ambient air come from mobile sources. CO can cause harmful health effects by reducing oxygen delivery to the body's organs (like the heart and brain) and tissues. In 2010, the EPA released the Integrated Science Assessment for Carbon Monoxide to assess the human health and welfare effects of exposures to CO.
History of the ISAs for Carbon Monoxide
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Jan 2010 | EPA released the document Integrated Science Assessment for Carbon Monoxide (PDF) . This is the most recent CO ISA. [Federal Register Jan 29, 2010] |
| Jun 2000 | EPA released the document Air Quality Criteria for Carbon Monoxide (PDF) |
| Dec 1991 | EPA released the document Air Quality Criteria for Carbon Monoxide (PDF) |
| Aug 1984 | EPA released the document Revised Evaluation of Health Effects Associated with Carbon Monoxide Exposure: An Addendum to the 1979 EPA Air Quality Criteria Document for Carbon Monoxide(pdf) (3.2 MB, August 1984, EPA-600/8-83-033F). |
| Oct 1979 | EPA released the document Air Quality Criteria Document for Carbon Monoxide(pdf) (21.17 MB, October 1979, EPA-600/8-79-022). |
| Mar 1970 | The National Air Pollution Control Administration published the first Air Quality Criteria for Carbon Monoxide. |
Scientific Studies Considered in the ISA
The published studies cited and considered in ISAs are identified in the Health and Environmental Research Online (HERO) database. HERO is a searchable database of more than 1.6 million scientific studies and other references used to develop EPA assessments for understanding the health and environmental effects of pollutants and chemicals. For the most recent final ISA for Carbon Monoxide, these are identified on the ISA for Carbon Monoxide (2010 Final Project Page)