1. The NAAQS: The Dirty Half Dozen

2. Has Air Quality Gotten Better or Worse in Your Lifetime?

3. NAAQS Established April 30, 1971
Six Pollutants that are Dangerous for
Public Health:
Lead
Carbon monoxide
Nitrogen dioxide
Sulfur dioxide
Ozone
Particulate Matter

4. #1: Lead (pb) Definition: naturally-occurring metal
Sources: ore and metal processing; aviation leaded gasoline
Health Impact: reduces blood’s ability to carry oxygen; can contribute to high blood pressure and heart disease.
Fact: EPA banned from gasoline in the 1970s.

5. #2: Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Definition: colorless, odorless gas
Source: motor vehicles
Health Impact: blocks oxygen delivery to major organs such as the heart and brain.
Fact: CO is deadly in an enclosed space with rapid, high exposure.

6. #3: Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
Definition: a reddish-brown, highly reactive gas
Sources: motor vehicles, power plants
Health Impact: even healthy people will experience airway inflammation when exposed to NO2.
Fact: adding oxygen to nitrogen allows it to pollute more.

7. Near Road NO2 Monitoring Site

8. #4: Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Definition: a highly reactive toxic gas
Sources: power plants, industrial facilities
Health Impact: increase asthma symptoms
Facts: SO2 is the main cause of acid rain; scrubbers at power plants have reduced SO2 from the air

9. #5: Ozone (O3)
Definition: colorless gas that occurs when pollutants mix in the presence of heat and light
Sources: car exhaust, gas vapors, industrial emissions
Health Impact: coughing, throat irritation, even chest pains
Fact: main cause of smog alerts

10. #6: Particulate Matter (PM)
Definition: soot, dust and dirt in the air
Course particulates (between 2.5 and 10): produced by crushing or grinding processes
Fine particulates (PM2.5) are so small they can only be detected with an electron microscope.
Sources:
Course: dust from vehicles on the road or construction sites
Fine: all types of combustion: cars, residential wood burning, forest fires, even fireworks
Health Impact: Coughing, decreased lung function, irregular heartbeat.

11. Particulate Matter (PM)

12. Air Monitors

13. Air Quality Index Air Quality Index Protect Your Health 2012 2013 Good
Good
0-50
No health impacts are expected when air quality in this range.
Moderate
51-100
Unusually sensitive people should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
Unhealthy
Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion; everyone else, especially children, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
Very Unhealthy
Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should avoid all prolonged outdoor exertion; everyone else, especially children, should limit outdoor exertion.
Hazardous
Health alert: everyone may experience more serious health effects

14. Local Air Quality Map

15. Has Air Quality Gotten Better or Worse in Your Lifetime?

16. Air Pollution Reduction: 1990-2010
17% 17%
45% 46%
38% 33%
73% 70%
75% 78%
83% 86%

17. NAAQS Analysis Pollutant Unit of Measurement EPA Standard SW Ohio 2012CO
ppm (parts per million)
9 ppm 8-hour average
.99 ppm
Lead
μg/m3 (micrograms per cubic meter)
.15 μg/m3 (rolling, 3-month average)
.0059 μg/m3
NO2
ppb (parts per billion)
53 ppb
annual average
13 ppb
SO2
ppb
(parts per billion)
75 ppb
1-hour average
70 ppb
Ozone 1
PM2.5
μg/m3
(micrograms per cubic meter)
35 μg/m3 2
1There are four counties in Southwest Ohio; here are their ozone readings:
Butler: 82; Clermont: 82; Hamilton: 85; Warren: 79
2Here is the 2012 data for PM2.5 per county
Butler: 27; Hamilton: 30

18. Don’t Idle! Idling is leaving a vehicle’s engine running
when it is parked or not in use.
Waiting to pick someone up
Running errands
Sitting at the drive-thru
Idling a car for 30 seconds uses more gas than turning it off and on!