Toxic chemicals in our air supply: the need for action to protect the public health.

More than sixty million pounds of toxic chemicals are leaked into the air yearly from 80 companies that responded to a congressional survey. The total scope of the problem is vastly greater. These releases are unregulated because EPA has been and continues to be unwilling to designate air toxics as hazardous under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act. EPA has not gathered the information necessary to evaluate how these hazardous substances are affecting America's health. EPA now seeks to have state and local governments assume responsibility for the regulation of air toxics from American industry. The Toxic Release Control Act of 1985 has been passed and is designed to get EPA moving on the control of air toxics. EPA is required to set health protection standards and put in place rules designed to prevent chemical leaks into the air, both routine and catastrophic, for each of 85 identified substances. 1 figure.