METEO 497A

1
METEO 497A Class 3 January 29, 2008 Criteria
Pollutants More Briefing Information
2
Clean Air Act

• Passed in 1970, amended several times, most
  notably in 1990.
• Requires EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality
  Standards (NAAQS) for pollutants considered
  harmful to public health and the environment.
• Standards are regularly reviewed ( 5 years) in
  light of new health data.
• New PM2.5 standard set in September, 2006.

3
NAAQS

• Primary standards To protect public health,
  including the health of sensitive populations.
• Secondary standards Protect public welfare.
  This includes damage to crops, animals and, of
  recent interest, visibility.
• The US EPA sets the standards but it is up to the
  States to prepare plans to attain them State
  Implementation Plan (SIP)

4
Criteria Pollutants

• Pollutants for which NAAQS have been set are
  called criteria pollutants.
• Currently, these include
• CO
• Lead (Pb)
• NO2
• PM10 and PM2.5 (Revised, 2006)
• O3
• SOX

5
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
CO is a colorless, odorless, poisonous
gas Produced by incomplete burning of
carbon. 77 of CO emissions are from
transportation sources, also from wood-burning
stoves, incinerators and industrial sources. NAAQ
S 9 ppmv (8-h average)
6
Lead (Pb)
Lead can be inhaled, ingested and cause central
nervous system damage, including seizures,
mental retardation and other behavioral
disorders. Blood lead levels decreased 78 from
1980 to 1990 due to reduction of leaded gas and
removal of Pb from soldered cans. Smelters (see
map) are still a source of atmospheric lead,
7
Sulfur Compounds (SO2 et al.)
SO2, besides being a large component of acid
rain, also aggravates existing respiratory and
cardiovascular disease. Sources include coal and
oil combustion (e.g., energy generation, steel
mills, refineries, smelters). NAAQS Primary
0.03 ppm/yr or 0.14 ppm/day Secondary 0.50
ppm/3 h
8
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

• Brownish, highly reactive gas. Irritates lungs
  and can lower resistance to respiratory
  infection.
• Precursor to O3 and acid rain.
• Sources are primarily transportation and
  stationary fuel combustion (utilities and
  industrial boilers).
• No areas are in non-attainment.

9
Ozone (O3)
O3 is a major component of photochemical
smog. O3 is a secondary pollutant formed from
sunlight, hydrocarbons and NO2. Damages lung
tissue, reduces lung function and sensitizes the
lungs to other irritants. More on this later in
the course.
10
Coarse Particulate Matter PM10
Sources of coarse PM are natural and
manmade. Natural sources include dust and sea
salt. Manmade sources include road dust,
construction related activities and various
grinding proceses. Less a health hazard
than PM2.5 more next class on that.
11
Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5)
Much more on this in next lecture. Includes a
wide variety of small particles in the
atmosphere both a primary and secondary
pollutant. Current NAAQS 15 µgm-3/yearly
35 µgm-3/daily Note separate daily and annual
standards
Old Standard
12
New PM NAAQS (1)

• On September 27, 2006 EPA promulgated revisions
  to the NAAQS for particle pollution.
• The regulations address two categories fine
  particles (PM2.5) and inhalable coarse particles
  (PM10)
• The 24-hour NAAQS standard for PM2.5 is reduced
  from 65 to 35 µgm-3. This has a big impact on
  air quality forecasting.

13
New NAAQS and Local Forecasting
Under old NAAQS, daily PM2.5 almost never,
in absence of wildfires or fireworks,
exceeded standard. Under proposed standard, we
expect urban area like PHL to exceed
daily standard 5.5 or days or 20 days per
year.
14
Non-Attainment Areas Current
15
Non-Attainment Areas New NAAQS

• Annual and 24-hour PM2.5 Nonattainment (53
  counties)
• 24-hour Only PM2.5 Nonattainment (69)
• Annual PM2.5 Only Nonattainment (15)
• (2002-2004 includes all sites w/ 11
  observations
• per quarter or those deemed complete via
• data substitution) (137 counties)

These projections are based on the most recent
data (2002-2004). EPA will not designate areas
as nonattainment on these data, but likely on
2006-2008 data which we expect to show improved
air quality.
16
New PM NAAQS (2)

• The annual average PM2.5 standard (15 µgm-3) is
  retained.
• The daily PM10 standard is retained at 150 µgm-3.
• The annual average PM10 standard is revoked.

17
More Details on the PM2.5 NAAQS

• How know if in non-attainment
• Daily 3 year average of 98th percentile
• Yearly Three year average of annual mean
• Many locations are 15 µgm-3
• For more details, see
• http//www.epa.gov/pmdesignations/regs.htm
• (Proposed Rule to Implement Fine Particle
  Standards)

18
Status of New PM2.5 NAAQS

• Thirteen states and DC filed suit against the EPA
  in late 2006.
• Contend that by failing to make standard for
  PM2.5 more protective, EPA violated the
  requirement of the Clean Air Act that the agency
  set standards at a level sufficient to protect
  public health with an adequate margin of safety.
• American Medical Association (AMA) recommends
  daily standard of 25 µgm-3 and annual standard of
  12 µgm-3.

19
Inhalable Coarse Particles PM2.5-10

• The Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee
  (CASAC) advises the EPA on health standards
• Recommended PM2.5 annual standard of 13 µgm-3
• Recommended new health standard for smaller
  coarse particles PM2.5-10
• EPA to require states to deploy 60 PM2.5-10
  monitors but no health standard as yet.

20
All Criteria Pollutants
21
Politics of Air Quality

• Federal government (through the EPA) sets the
  NAAQS and determines compliance.
• If not in attainment, states must submit a plan
  (State Implementation Plan or SIP) showing they
  will come into attainment at some specified date.
• EPA reviews and approved plan.
• Sanctions for not attaining standard include
  removal of transportation funding.

22
Air Quality Forecasting and SIPs

• O3 NAAQS has proven very difficult to attain.
• But recent improvements?
• Easy measures (e.g., cleaner cars) already taken,
  expensive measures (e.g., NOX controls) are
  underway.
• Poor O3 days are episodic (synoptic scale).
• Could intermittent controls help? Can states get
  credit on their SIPs for these programs?
• States have developed public-private partnerships
  (Action Day programs) to take voluntary actions
  on bad days to reduce pollution.
• How know when bad day is coming? Need a
  forecast.

23
Forecast Use

• Forecasts prepared under aegis of state/local
  government or Action Day program.
• Forecasts disseminated to stakeholders and to the
  general public.
• Large public outreach programs to get forecasts
  out and to teach citizens what they can do to
  help.

24
Air Quality Forecasts - Current
25
What Does This Mean for Forecasters?

• Varied audience for forecasts.
• Public health groups
• Industry
• Need for informing public.
• Education is a key function
• Co-ordination with Action Day groups and with
  other forecasters.

26
Public Outreach

• Examples of Forecasts
• http//www.epa.gov/airnow/
• http//www.pscleanair.org/
• http//www.airpact.wsu.edu/
• Examples of Public Outreach
• http//www.epa.gov/airnow/consumer.html
• http//www.airshare.info/index.cfm/homepage.html
• http//www.sparetheair.com/