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<br />.+::;-,~ ~'. <br /> <br />...... <br />...J <br />CJ) <br />c.u <br /> <br />When odor levels are high, the use and enjoyment of property may be <br />severely limited. Some odors are associated with toxic substances such as <br />hydrogen sulfide and can cause health problems. While odors are mainly a <br />nuisance, prolonged exposures can cause problems with breathing, <br />digestion, nausea, headaches, and general irritation. <br /> <br />Although odor control is part of Colorado's work program for source <br />inspections, no federal funds are spent in this area. <br /> <br />G. Hazardous and Toxic Air Pollutants <br /> <br />The Colorado Air Pollution Control Division makes a distinction between <br />hazardous and toxic air pollutants. A hazardous air pollutant is defined <br />as a pollutant causing an increase in mortality or an increase in serious <br />irreversible or incapacitating illness. Toxic air pollutants are <br />distinguished by the fact that while short-term exposure may have <br />immediate deleterious effects, removal of the offending substance reverses <br />those effects. <br /> <br />Section 112 of the Clean Air Act directs the EPA to list and establish <br />emissions standards for hazardous air pollutants. To date, standards have <br />been developed for arsenic, asbestos, benzene, beryllium, mercury, <br />radion~clides, and vinyl chloride. <br /> <br />The special concern for carcinogenic air pollutants has been heightened by <br />increasing awareness of the importance of environmental factors in the <br />development of cancer. Because of the magnitude of the cancer problem in <br />the U.S., even a small direct relationship to an airborne pollutant like <br />asbestos can have a significant effect on the population. Cancer induced <br />by exposure to small amounts of airborne carcinogens may not appear for 10 <br />to 40 years. <br /> <br />In addition to concern over the direct effects of toxic air pollutants, a <br />number of indirect adverse consequences can result from atmospheric <br />transformation and removal of air pollutants from the atmosphere' to other <br />media. For example, a number of chlorinated organics are transformed by <br />photochemical reactions into phosgene. Other halogenated organic <br />chemicals may deplete stratospheric ozone, eventually posing an increased <br />risk of skin cancer. <br /> <br />Colorado regulates hazardous pollutants under Commission Regulation No. <br />8. Presently, standards have been adopted for asbestos, beryllium, <br />mercury, and vinyl chloride. A policy has also been established for <br />dealing with hazardous and toxic pollutants identified during the permit <br />process. <br /> <br />2. WATER QUALITY <br /> <br />Water quality problems in Colorado occur both naturally and as a result of <br />human activities. The natural contributors include the presence of metals <br />in many mountain streams and, to a lesser extent, salinity in the Colorado <br />River, its tributaries and the Arkansas River. Other natural <br />contributions which can affect stream uses are suspended solids and <br />radioactivity. <br /> <br />-6- <br />