What are primary standards established under the CAA designed to protect?

Primary standards established under the Clean Air Act (CAA) are specifically designed to protect human health. These standards set maximum allowable concentrations of harmful pollutants in the air, focusing on vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions. The primary goal of these standards is to minimize adverse health effects that can arise from exposure to air pollutants, ensuring that air quality is maintained at a level that is safe for all individuals.

In contrast, while environmental ecosystems, agricultural productivity, and economic stability are important considerations in air quality management, they are addressed primarily through secondary standards and broader regulatory measures. Secondary standards are aimed at protecting public welfare, including environmental effects, but the primary standards are explicitly targeted at safeguarding human health from the immediate and direct impacts of air pollution.