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Lisa M. PolyakLisa M. PolyakUS Army Center for Health Promotion & Preventive US Army Center for Health Promotion & Preventive

MedicineMedicineAir Quality Surveillance ProgramAir Quality Surveillance ProgramEmail: Lisa.Polyak@us.army.milEmail: Lisa.Polyak@us.army.mil

Air Quality Issues in Air Quality Issues in MarylandMaryland

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Constituents of Clean AirConstituents of Clean Air

Nitrogen (78.08%)Nitrogen (78.08%) Oxygen (20.95%)Oxygen (20.95%) Argon (0.93%)Argon (0.93%) Carbon Dioxide (0.03%)Carbon Dioxide (0.03%) Trace amounts of Neon, Methane, Trace amounts of Neon, Methane,

Helium, Krypton, Hydrogen & Helium, Krypton, Hydrogen & XenonXenon

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Pollutants Regulated by Pollutants Regulated by National Ambient Air Quality National Ambient Air Quality

Standards (NAAQS)Standards (NAAQS)

Ozone (OOzone (O33))

Carbon Monoxide (CO)Carbon Monoxide (CO) Particulate Matter (PMParticulate Matter (PM1010, PM, PM2.52.5))

Sulfur Dioxide (SOSulfur Dioxide (SO22))

Nitrogen Dioxide (NONitrogen Dioxide (NO22))

Lead (Pb)Lead (Pb)

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# of People Living in Areas that # of People Living in Areas that Exceed National Air Standards - USExceed National Air Standards - US

US Population = 290 million

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# of People Living in Areas that # of People Living in Areas that Exceed National Air Standards - Exceed National Air Standards -

MarylandMaryland

Maryland Population = 5.296 million

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What we typically call What we typically call smogsmog is made up of is made up of ground level ozoneground level ozone

Ozone forms in a Ozone forms in a chemical reaction chemical reaction with nitrogen oxides, with nitrogen oxides, organic chemicals & organic chemicals & sunlightsunlight

Ozone is mostly a Ozone is mostly a problem in summer problem in summer monthsmonths

Ground Level OzoneGround Level Ozone

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Health Effects of Ground Level Health Effects of Ground Level OzoneOzone

Ozone interferes with Ozone interferes with normal lung function, normal lung function, aggravates respiratory aggravates respiratory diseases, and causes eye diseases, and causes eye irritation. irritation.

Most common symptom is Most common symptom is pain from taking a deep pain from taking a deep breath.breath.

Long term exposure to Long term exposure to ozone may lead to ozone may lead to scarring & premature scarring & premature aging of the lungs.aging of the lungs.

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MarylandMaryland CountiesCounties thatthat ExceedExceed NationalNational OzoneOzone LimitsLimits

Anne ArundelAnne Arundel BaltimoreBaltimore CalvertCalvert CarrollCarroll CecilCecil CharlesCharles FrederickFrederick

HarfordHarford HowardHoward KentKent MontgomeryMontgomery Prince George’sPrince George’s Queen Anne’sQueen Anne’s WashingtonWashington

and Baltimore Cityand Baltimore City

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Ground Level Ozone is Ground Level Ozone is Different than Stratospheric Different than Stratospheric

OzoneOzone

GoodGood up High… up High…

……BadBad Nearby !!!Nearby !!!

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What is Fine Particulate Matter What is Fine Particulate Matter ??

Particulate matter, or PM, is Particulate matter, or PM, is the term for particles found in the term for particles found in the air, including dust, dirt, the air, including dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and liquid soot, smoke, and liquid droplets.  droplets. 

These small particles can be These small particles can be suspended in the air for long suspended in the air for long periods of time.  periods of time. 

Some particles are large or Some particles are large or dark enough to be seen as dark enough to be seen as soot or smoke.  Others are so soot or smoke.  Others are so small that individually they small that individually they can only be detected with an can only be detected with an electron microscope. electron microscope.

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Types of Fine Particulate Types of Fine Particulate MatterMatter

Primary ParticlesPrimary Particles These particles are emitted

directly from air pollution sources such as power plants, factories, automobile exhaust, construction sites, unpaved roads, wood burning

Secondary ParticlesSecondary Particles Formed in the atmosphere

indirectly when gases from burning fuels react with sunlight and water vapor and are chemically transformed into particles

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Health Effects From Fine Health Effects From Fine ParticlesParticles

Many scientific studies have Many scientific studies have linked breathing PM to a series linked breathing PM to a series of significant health problems, of significant health problems, including:including:

aggravated asthma respiratory symptoms like coughing

and difficult or painful breathing chronic bronchitis decreased lung function heart arrhythmia and heart attacks premature death

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Maryland Counties that Exceed Maryland Counties that Exceed NationalNational ParticulateParticulate LimitsLimits

Anne ArundelAnne Arundel BaltimoreBaltimore

Prince George’sPrince George’s

and Baltimore Cityand Baltimore City

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Fine Particle Levels in Maryland 2000-2002

ug/m3

Exceeds National Standard of 15

ug/m3

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Maryland Maryland AirAir

Monitoring Monitoring StationStation

Fine Particle Sampler

Meteorological Sensors

Air Intake for Ozone Analyzer

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Relative Humidity

Wind DirectionWind Speed

Fine Particle Sampler

Temperature

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How to know if it’s a Bad Air Day…How to know if it’s a Bad Air Day…

Check out the Check out the Air Quality IndexAir Quality Index

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Where to Find Real-Time Air Where to Find Real-Time Air Quality Data on the InternetQuality Data on the Internet

For locations throughout Maryland go to For locations throughout Maryland go to Air-Watch.netAir-Watch.net operated by the operated by the Maryland Department of the Maryland Department of the Environment at:Environment at:http://air-watch.net/http://air-watch.net/

For locations throughout the United For locations throughout the United States go to States go to AIRAIRNow Now operated by the U.S. operated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at:Environmental Protection Agency at: http://www.epa.gov/airnow/http://www.epa.gov/airnow/

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Air-Watch.NetAir-Watch.Net shows AQI color for shows AQI color for each Maryland countyeach Maryland county

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Air-Watch.NetAir-Watch.Net tracks AQI color tracks AQI color for every hour of the dayfor every hour of the day

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Air-Watch.NetAir-Watch.Net compiles AQI color compiles AQI color for each day of the monthfor each day of the month

Monitoring Station

Time of day high pollutant level was

recorded

AQI value

AQI Pollutant

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Air Quality in the MediaAir Quality in the Media

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Protect your Health when High Protect your Health when High Ozone Levels are ExpectedOzone Levels are Expected

If an If an OrangeOrange, , RedRed, , PurplePurple or or MaroonMaroon day is predicted, day is predicted, restrict outdoor activities & observe local health restrict outdoor activities & observe local health warningswarnings

Exercise early in the morning or late in the evening Exercise early in the morning or late in the evening (when ozone levels are lowest)(when ozone levels are lowest)

Avoid midday or afternoon exercise, avoid strenuous Avoid midday or afternoon exercise, avoid strenuous outdoor work in the late afternoon and early evening outdoor work in the late afternoon and early evening

Avoid congested streets and rush hour traffic; pollution Avoid congested streets and rush hour traffic; pollution levels can be high up to 50 feet from the roadwaylevels can be high up to 50 feet from the roadway

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Help Prevent Formation of Help Prevent Formation of Ground Level OzoneGround Level Ozone

Set the thermostat a little higher in the summerSet the thermostat a little higher in the summer

Carpool, use public transit, walk, or bicycleCarpool, use public transit, walk, or bicycle

Avoid engine idling in long drive-through linesAvoid engine idling in long drive-through lines

Get gas during cooler morning or evening hours. Get gas during cooler morning or evening hours. Avoid spilling gas and don't "top off" the tank.Avoid spilling gas and don't "top off" the tank.

Mow the lawn late in the eveningMow the lawn late in the evening

Shop by phone, mail or InternetShop by phone, mail or Internet

TelecommuteTelecommute

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Data and Graphics for this Data and Graphics for this presentation were provided by:presentation were provided by:

Maryland Department of the Maryland Department of the EnvironmentEnvironment

Air & Radiation Management AdministrationAir & Radiation Management Administration

For more information contact:For more information contact:

Randy Mosier at rmosier@mde.state.md.usRandy Mosier at rmosier@mde.state.md.us

andand

U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyU.S. Environmental Protection Agency