1. Municipality of Anchorage Department of Health and Human Services
AMATS Air Quality Update
April 2012
Thank you. My name is blah, blah, blah.
Municipality of Anchorage
Department of Health and Human Services

2. Status Report Carbon monoxide (CO) Particulate matter (PM10 & PM2.5)
Ozone
Airborne lead
Air toxics (benzene)
Sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide
I am going to talk briefly about the status of the Municipality of Anchorage with respect to national ambient air quality standards for EPA criteria pollutants carbon monoxide, particulate matter, ozone and airborne lead. These are called criteria pollutants because the EPA has established specific standards for these pollutants.
I am also going to discuss the results of monitoring we at DHHS have done for air toxics, specifically benzene. Unlike the other pollutants listed on this slide, EPA has not established specific ambient standards for benzene. Benzene is a concern, however, because it is a known human carcinogen.
I am not going to talk about sulfur dioxide or nitrogen dioxide. Past monitoring suggests that the levels of these two pollutants are low and not of particular concern here.

3. CO Colorless odorless gas produced by incomplete combustion
79% of emissions from motor vehicles
Highest concentrations occur on cold mid-winter days with strong temperature inversions
Residential areas tend to have highest concentrations
Recite bullets. Emphasize importance of cold start emissions. Depending on driver behavior, 50% or more of the pollution produced by a morning commute trip is emitted in the driveway.

4. Anchorage CO Trend
Obviously the CO trend in Anchorage is down. The last violation of the 9 ppm standard occurred in In 1980 we saw 8-hour CO concentrations above 25 ppm. In 2011, the highest concentrations were about 4 ppm. This has come about largely because of improvements in the emission controls on motor vehicles. Similar declines have been seen in other parts of the U.S. Very few communities currently violate the CO standard. Those that do tend to have unusual industrial sources like coking plants that produce large amounts of CO.

5. Number of Exceedances of the NAAQS
Comparison with CO Concentrations in Selected Western Cities in U.S. (2010)
Metropolitan Area
Highest 8-hour Concentration
(ppm)
2nd Highest 8-hour Concentration
Number of Exceedances of the NAAQS
Anchorage, AK
6.9
6.1
Fairbanks, AK
5.0
4.1
Las Vegas, NV
3.4
3.0
Phoenix, AZ
3.3
3.2
El Paso, TX
2.8
Denver, CO
3.1
2.4
Ogden, UT
1.9
Reno, NV
2.1
Portland, OR
Spokane, WA
2.3
Salt Lake City, UT
2.2
Albuquerque, NM
2.0
Sacramento, CA
Seattle, WA
0.8
0.7
Even though our CO has come way down, we still see some of the highest CO concentrations in the U.S. here. Our sub-arctic climate contributes to strong and persistent temperature inversions that trap CO and other pollutants like benzene near the ground.

6. PM10 and PM2.5 Width of human hair
Linked with asthma and other respiratory health problems
Death rates in hospitals increase when PM2.5 concentrations are high
Anchorage studies show that there are more doctor visits for asthma when PM10 levels increase
PM2.5
(2.5 µm)
PM10
(10µm)
I am going to switch gears now and talk about particulate matter. Particulate matter or PM comes in two size varieties. The larger size is comprised of particles 10 microns or smaller is called PM-10 and the smaller size is comprised of particles less than 2.5 microns, is called PM-2.5.
Currently more interest nation-wide is focused on the health impacts of PM-2.5. Studies have shown that death rates in hospitals increase when PM-2.5 is high. PM-2.5 is also associated with other respiratory health problems like asthma and bronchitis.
However, a number of local studies, some conducted right here in Anchorage have shown than PM-10 to be a health concern. Studies conducted by Mary Ellen Gordian of UAA, and later by Brad Gessner of AK DHSS have shown that doctor visits for asthma and bronchitis increase when our PM-10 concentrations rise.

7. PM10
Occasional violations of the NAAQS in spring at Tudor Road site due to road dust.
Magnesium chloride is being used to suppress dust along 40 miles of high volume roadways in Anchorage and Eagle River.
Eagle River regularly violated NAAQS in late-1980’s before roads were paved
Strong winds transported dust from glacial river valleys in Mat Su causing exceedances of NAAQS in 2003, 2007, 2009, and 2010.
Read bullets and expand on each. Explain photo.
Note that DHHS prepared the Eagle River PM-10 LMP (which the AAQAC reviewed in 2009) that is still awaiting review and approval by EPA.
Also, we’re still waiting for EPA to approve those pesky exceptional event waiver requests submitted some time ago for the Matanuska wind/dust storms in 2007 and We will have another for the Sept 24, 2010 episode for the AAQAC to review soon. That will have to go to ADEC and EPA too.
September 24, 2010 MODIS satellite image

8. PM2.5
Generally low concentrations in Anchorage (ranked 6th cleanest city for year-round PM2.5 pollution by ALA)
C14 analysis of Anchorage samples suggests that most PM2.5 is from wood smoke
Assembly passed outdoor wood boiler ordinance restricting installations to those meeting EPA-certified Phase 2 standards.
Read bullets (ALA = American Lung Association)
Note that we do also get occasional complaints about diesel exhaust, which like wood smoke is made up mostly of PM-2.5 sized particles.
Explain that we are trying to monitor wood heating trends in Anchorage with annual telephone opinion surveys. Fairbanks has been designated by EPA as a nonattainment area for PM-2.5 largely due to wood smoke. We are lucky to have relatively inexpensive natural gas in Anchorage and that we do not to have to rely on expensive fuel oil like they do in Fairbanks. Let’s hope they find new supplies of natural gas in Cook Inlet.
NESCAUM 2006

9. No obvious upward or downward trend in PM10 or PM2
No obvious upward or downward trend in PM10 or PM2.5 during past 10 years
Read title and explain that we would like to see a downward trend in both PM-10 and PM In particular, we’d like to begin to see some positive effect from the mag chloride program on PM-10.

10. Ozone (O3)
Secondary pollutant produced by a chemical reaction between oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds in the presence of sunlight.
Ozone in stratosphere protects us from UV
Causes respiratory irritation, coughing, pain
Highest concentrations seen downwind of major urban centers in summer
O3 levels in Anchorage and Eagle River were among the lowest 1% of sites in U.S.
Ozone is the main ingredient in “smog.”
Read bullets. Note that the highest 8-hour concentration measured in Anchorage or Eagle River was well under the NAAQS and that ADEC is finding similar levels in Wasilla. Explain that we believe that the ozone that we do measure is likely from natural sources. Concentrations in Anchorage/Mat Su are consistently lower than those in Denali National Park . We think we see lower ozone here because the ozone here is “consumed” as it reacts with urban pollutants ironically not found in more pristine Denali.
Explain that we have been required to monitor because federal regulations stipulate that monitoring is required in consolidated metropolitan statistical areas with populations greater than 350,000 and the Anchorage – Mat Su CMSA is just over the threshold. We’d like to get a waiver from this requirement so we can devote our staff resources to higher priorities.

11. Airborne Lead
EPA study of 15 mid-sized airports serving piston aircraft
Unlike gasoline, aviation fuel still contains lead additive
One-year study at Merrill Field will conclude Oct 2012
Will not be used to assess attainment with the new ambient lead standard
Preliminary data suggest that concentrations at Merrill Field are below standard
Read bullets. Explain that monitor (A) is placed to measure highest concentration. Emphasize that data so far are preliminary and that we could see higher Pb when air traffic increases in spring and summer.

12. Air toxics (benzene) DHHS is monitoring ambient benzene to assess impact of new EPA limits on the amount of benzene in gasoline
Phase 1 (completed)
Oct 2008 – Oct 2009
Gasoline benzene ≈ 5%
Found average ambient benzene levels at Garden site in Airport Heights to be in 98th percentile of U.S. sites
Phase 2 (planned)
Aug 2012 – Aug 2013
Gasoline benzene <1.3%
How much will ambient benzene concentrations be reduced?
Note that Tesoro Alaska who supplies most of the gasoline sold in Anchorage reportedly spent $150M in refinery modifications to produce the required lower benzene gasoline.
Explain that EPA reduced amount of benzene allowed in gasoline to 1.3% beginning July From past studies we knew we had high ambient benzene in Anchorage. We wanted to see how much this new EPA gasoline regulation would reduce these high ambient concentrations.
Explain Phase 1 was snapshot of conditions before the gasoline change and Phase 2 will be a snapshot after. Note that ambient benzene concentrations measured in Phase 1 were among the highest 2% in the U.S.

13. Garden site (Anchorage) Annual Average [benzene] = 1.1 ppb
Compare and contrast land use. Explain that we likely see high benzene in the Garden neighborhood because
temperature inversions (same conditions lead to high CO)
cold starts (unburned gasoline emitted)
gasoline benzene content in was three to five times higher than most of U.S.
Galena Park, TX (near Houston)
Annual Average [benzene] = 1.1 ppb

14. Summary
CO has fallen dramatically and is expected to continue to decline, but more slowly than the past.
PM10 is a problem during spring break up. Magnesium chloride is used to control dust on major roads. Unpaved road problem in Eagle River has been resolved.
PM2.5 is fairly low but could pose a problem if wood burning increases.
Ozone levels are among lowest in the U.S.
Benzene concentrations were among highest in U.S. in The impact of lowering the gasoline benzene content from 5% to 1.3% or lower will be evaluated this coming year.
Read bullets. Field questions.