1. Air Quality in Anchorage
Air Quality Program
Department of Health and Human Services
Municipality of Anchorage
April 2009
Photo credit: James M. Wiedle, 2003

2. Anchorage Air Quality StatusCO
Reclassified as a maintenance area after being classified as nonattainment for over 25 years. No violations of the CO NAAQS since 1996.
PM10
Eagle River is currently considered nonattainment but may be redesignated as a maintenance area. Anchorage is classified as an attainment area.
PM2.5
Attainment
Lead
Status with regard to the new air quality standard for lead not yet determined.
SO2
Attainment O3
Attainment
NO2
Attainment

3. Carbon monoxide (CO)

4. CO Colorless, odorless gas
Binds with hemoglobin in blood, robs ability to carry oxygen to tissues
High concentrations will cause death
Lower concentrations are associated with increase in heart pain (angina). May contribute to “premature” death in elderly
70% of all CO in Anchorage is from automobiles

5. Anchorage CO Monitoring Stations
Active sites – red
Discontinued sites - black

6. We see higher CO in residential Spenard than at Seward Highway and Benson Boulevard.
During a typical morning commute more emissions occur in the driveway than on the road.

7. Why plug-in?

8. Trend in Anchorage CO Concentrations5 10 15 20 25 30
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
CO (ppm)
Garden
Benson
Seward
Turnagain
Sand Lake
CO NAAQS

9. Comparison of Calendar Year 2007 CO Concentrations in
Selected Western U.S. Metropolitan Areas
Metropolitan Area
Highest 8-hour Concentration
(ppm)
2nd Highest 8-hour Concentration
Number of Exceedances of the NAAQS
Ogden, UT
9.9
5.7 1
Sacramento, CA
5.6
4.1
Anchorage, AK
5.5
5.3
Phoenix, AZ
4.6
Las Vegas, NV
3.8
El Paso, TX
3.2
Salt Lake City, UT
3.7
3.4
Albuquerque, NM
3.6
Reno, NV
3.3
Fairbanks, AK
Denver, CO
2.8
Spokane, WA
3.1
2.9
Portland, OR
2.7
Seattle, WA
1.0
Anchorage was in top 2% of all stations reporting in the U.S.

10. PM10 and PM2.5 Width of human hair
Linked with asthma and other respiratory health problems
Studies have shown higher death rates in hospitals 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)

11. Sources of PM10 and PM2.5 are different
Typical PM10 sources
Typical PM2.5 sources
Wild fire
Improper sweeping on paved road
Wild fires
Diesel exhaust
Fireplaces, wood stoves
Dust from paved and unpaved roads
Volcanoes, windblown glacial silt

12. PM10 monitoring has been performed at many sites in Anchorage and Eagle River

13. Anchorage PM10 concentrations sometimes exceed federal standards. PM2
Anchorage PM10 concentrations sometimes exceed federal standards. PM2.5 concentrations are almost always well below federal standards.

14. Anchorage PM10 peaks during break-up and freeze-up
Anchorage PM10 peaks during break-up and freeze-up. Highest levels are near major roads. 20 40 60 80
100
120
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
PM-10 (ug/cu. meter)
Airport Heights Residential Area
Tudor Road 20 40 60 80
100
120
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
PM-10 (ug/cu. meter)
Airport Heights Residential Area
Tudor Road

15. Anchorage PM-10 Trend 10 20 30 40 50 60
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008 PM
(ug/m 3 )
Gambell
Allstate (Tudor Rd.)
Garden
Mt. Spurr eruption

16. Eagle River PM-10 Trend 10 20 30 40 50 60
1981
1984
1987
1990
1993
1996
1999
2002
2005
2008
PM10 (ug/m3)
Measured PM-10
Estimated PM-10
before paving
after paving
Mt. Spurr
eruption 1992
high winds,
blowing dust
March 2003

17. Selected Western Metropolitan Areas in the U.S.
Comparison of Calendar Year 2007 PM-10 Concentrations in
Selected Western Metropolitan Areas in the U.S.
Metropolitan Area
Annual Avg PM-10
(ug/m3)
Highest
24-Hour Avg
2nd Highest
24-Hour Avg
Phoenix, AZ 42
267
149
Eagle River, AK 19
223 48
Albuquerque, NM 35
194
130
El Paso, TX 34
181
167
Salt Lake City, UT 46
174
172
Reno, NV 44
115
Las Vegas, NV 39
127
San Diego, CA 30
110 58
Anchorage, AK 24 99 98
Spokane, WA 89 79
Portland, OR 25 82 68
Eugene, OR 16 78 70
Seattle, WA 20 60 53
Juneau, AK 7 45 21
Anchorage and Eagle River are mid-range in comparison to other cities in U.S. with respect to PM-10

18. 28.7
19.8
18.5
15.4
15.9
29.1
17.9
23.7
13.8
17.0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
PM2.5 (ug/m3)
PM-2.5 NAAQS (98th percentile of 24-hr average)
Levels of fine particulate matter (PM-2.5) are well below the NAAQS in Anchorage
6.5
5.4
5.9
5.8
6.8
6.9
6.3
4.9
5.5 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
PM2.5 (ug/m3)
NAAQS ( Annual Average)

19. Comparison of Calendar Year 2007 PM-2.5Concentrations in
Selected Western Metropolitan Areas in the U.S.
Metropolitan Area
98th Percentile of 24-hour Average
(ug/m3)
Annual Average (ug/m3)
Salt Lake City, UT
79.2
16.1
Juneau, AK
39.6
6.6
San Diego, CA
36.9
12.7
Eugene, OR
36.3
7.3
Phoenix, AZ
29.2
12.3
El Paso, TX
28.7
11.7
Spokane, WA
28.3
9.6
Seattle, WA
26.2
Reno, NV
24.0
8.0
Las Vegas, NV
22.6
10.3
Portland, OR
20.9
10.2
Albuquerque, NM
18.4
6.7
Anchorage, AK
14.5
4.9
Anchorage was among the lowest 2% of PM-2.5 stations in reporting in the U.S. in 2007

20. Benzene and air toxics
Benzene is a known human carcinogen, associated with certain types of leukemia.
Motor vehicles emissions are likely main source of benzene in Anchorage.
Benzene concentrations in Anchorage are highest when CO levels are high.

21. Average Annual Benzene Concentration (ppb)
Comparison of Annual Average Benzene Concentrations in Selected U.S. Metropolitan Areas (2007)
 Metropolitan Area
Average Annual Benzene Concentration (ppb)
Tonawanda, NY
3.7
Houston, TX
1.4
Anchorage **
El Paso, TX
1.2
Phoenix, AZ
0.7
Los Angeles, CA
0.5
New York, NY
0.4
Seattle, WA
0.3
Boston, MA
Portland, OR
0.2
Benzene concentrations in Anchorage appear to be among the highest in the U.S.
** Anchorage benzene concentration was estimated from CO.

22. Why is benzene so high in Anchorage?
Our gasoline contains 2 to 10 times more benzene than most gasoline in the lower-48
Vehicle cold starts produce lots of CO and benzene
Strong and persistent temperature inversions in the winter

23. Find full 2009 Air Trends report at: http://www. ci. anchorage. ak