1 Communicating air quality trade-offs

Module 6. Communicating Air Quality to the Public in the Mid-Atlantic United States

3 Did You Know? For the counties of the Mid-Atlantic states (DC, DE, NJ, MD, PA, VA, WV) there were, on average, about 4 days in 2005 with air quality designated unhealthy*….down from 8 days in 2000.** * Total of AQI categories unhealthy for sensitive individuals and unhealthy ** Based on three-year moving averages

4 Activity: What Do You Think? 1.AQI is a commonly used abbreviation for a)Air quality indicator b)Air quality index c)Air quality improvement d)Air quality insurance 2.What online resource provides easy access to the AQI? a)AirWow b)AirNet c)AirNow d)AirOnline 3.At what AQI level do state environmental regulators become concerned? a)AQI > 1 b)AQI < 0 c)AQI > 100 d)AQI < 10

5 Course Goals By the end of this session, you will be able to Define AQI Estimate the AQI Understand how AQI is used to inform the public about air quality in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. Know where to find current and forecasted air quality conditions for your community

6 Theory: AQI The number of air pollutants makes it difficult to communicate the general condition of air quality in a community. One way through this problem is to use a relative measure, or index, of air quality that is dependent on real measurements of the pollutants. Advantages: Many numbers become one Easier to communicate and understand

7 Theory: AQI AQI = Air Quality Index Developed to translate the real state of air quality into a relative state via an index Uses: Current conditions Forecasted conditions Range: 0 to 500 Basis: criteria air pollutant measurements

8 Theory: AQI AQI methodology Designed to communicate relative risk to public health from criteria pollutants Criteria pollutant measurements used in the AQI estimation: O 3 8-hr, O 3 1-hr, PM 2.5, PM 10, CO, SO 2, NO 2 AQI above 100 means a criteria pollutant has exceeded its NAAQS AQI ValueLevel of Health Concern When AQI is in this range:…air quality conditions are: Good Moderate Unhealthy for sensitive groups Unhealthy Very unhealthy Hazardous

9 Theory: AQI AQI methodology Daily concentrations of each criteria pollutant (except lead) at a monitoring site are used to interpolate an AQI for that pollutant from the table below Reported AQI is the highest of the individual pollutant AQIs AQIO 3 8-hrO 3 1-hrPM 2.5 PM 10 NO 2 SO 2 CO ppb ppm ppb µg/m 3

10 Application: AQI A city’s monitoring site reports the air pollutant concentrations shown. The AQI is assessed from these measurements. PollutantConcentrationAQI O 3 8-hr 80 ppb89 O 3 1-hr 142 ppb122 PM µg/m 3 79 PM µg/m 3 69 NO ppm-- SO ppb84 CO 5.6 ppm62 Conclusion: 122 is the max of the individual AQIs, hence an AQI of 122 is reported. AQI values from:

11 Application: AQI In the Mid-Atlantic U.S., AQI is usually set by ozone or particulate. Both carry health implications at high AQI values. AQI ValueHealth Concern None Sensitive people should limit prolonged outdoor exertion Active children and adults, and those with respiratory disease should limit prolonged outdoor activity Active children and adults, and those with respiratory disease should avoid prolonged outdoor activity; everyone else should limit prolonged outdoor activity Active children and adults, and those with respiratory disease should avoid all outdoor activity; everyone else should limit outdoor activity. AQI ValueHealth Concern None Sensitive people should limit prolonged outdoor exertion People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should reduce prolonged outdoor activity People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid prolonged outdoor activity. Everyone else should reduce prolonged outdoor activity People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid all outdoor activity. Everyone else should avoid prolonged outdoor activity. Ozone Particulate

12 Analysis: AQI Action: Reflecting on the previous AQI tables, discuss some of the likely community responses and impacts during an “unhealthy” AQI period. Time: 3 minutes

13 Theory: AQI Communication State and local authorities are required to report AQI to the public in any community with 350,000 people or more. If AQI exceeds 100, authorities will issue statements targeting affected individuals with suggested actions (Action Days) AQI is routinely published in newspapers, TV, web sites, and via alerts

14 Application: AQI Communication Action Days When AQI reaches (or predicted to reach) 100 or more Meant to trigger two types of action Protective measures that affected individuals should take Emission reduction measures that the public can take

15 Analysis: AQI Communication Question: In the summer, the AQI often exceeds 100 in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. due to enhanced ozone production. If an ozone Action Day is issued, what are some ways that the public could possibly reduce emissions that affect ozone levels? Action: With a small group create a list of three things the public could do to reduce ozone levels Time: 5 minutes

16 Application: AQI Communication Based on the state’s AQI forecasts, EPA’s AirNow site is the most comprehensive source of regional AQI information

17 Analysis: AQI Communication This chart shows four days of ozone-based AQI data. Action: In a group come up with three major observations based on these data Time: 5 minutes

18 Application: AQI Communication State level authorities provide more local AQI information. Maryland Department of Environment: (also includes alerts)

19 Application: AQI Communication Many newspapers are now reporting AQI on the Weather Page Many local TV news stations report AQI during the Weather segment Have you seen the AQI reported? Where?

20 Theory: AQI Forecasting Air quality monitoring data Meteorological data Weather forecast models Air quality models Prediction: tomorrow’s weather Prediction: tomorrow’s air quality Today’s weather Today’s air quality National Weather Service State Environmental Agencies The state environmental regulatory agencies, NOAA and U.S. EPA collaborate to produce AQI forecasts with measurements and computer models

21 Theory: AQI Forecasting While current prediction capabilities focus on AQI, planned capabilities include specific pollutants Current air quality alerts 10-year vision air quality alerts ProvideNext day warnings to big cities Ozone and particulate guidance Public productsDaily AQIHourly predictions of air pollutant concentrations Coverage~ 300 citiesNationwide Forecast periodNext day, weekendsTwo days and beyond Spatial resolutionCommunity wide2.5 km grid for entire U.S. Temporal resolutionDailyHourly

22 Application: AQI Forecasting Building to the 10-year vision NOAA’s National Weather Service currently can provide ozone predictions for the eastern U.S., twice daily at a 12.5 km resolution.

23 Analysis: AQI Question: The AQI is a useful public communication tool, yet no index is perfect. How could it be improved? Action: In a small group, discuss some of the weaknesses of the AQI and what it would take to minimize them. Time: 5-10 minutes

24 Activity: What Do You Think? 1.AQI is a commonly used abbreviation for a)Air quality indicator b)Air quality index c)Air quality improvement d)Air quality insurance 2.What online resource provides easy access to the AQI? a)AirWow b)AirNet c)AirNow d)AirOnline 3.At what AQI level do state environmental regulators become concerned? a)AQI > 1 b)AQI < 0 c)AQI > 100 d)AQI < 10

25 Further Learning AirNow, the EPA’s website for current and forecasted AQI, National Weather Service’s Air Quality Forecast site, A Guide to Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Quality, Appendix A: Health Effects of Air Pollution, pp. A3-A5. MidAtlantic_RegAQ_Final.pdf

26 A Moment to Reflect What is the most important thing you learned in this class?

27 Thanks for making this a great class!

28 Designed and created by: ©2007 Prof. Kurt Paterson, Ph.D., P.E. bigmac.cee.mtu.edu/marama.html Funding provided by: Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Management Association