Air Quality in Haymarket Impacted

 

This morning at 5 am this was the air quality at Long Park in Haymarket. This happens to be one of the higher levels I have seen at this monitoring station, though still within the U.S. EPA standard for only moderate pollution. In 2013 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the reduction in the fine particle pollution, PM2.5, average annual allowed level to 12 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3) or an AQI of 39. The 24-hr standard was recently revised to a level of 35 ug/m3 (an AQI of 99) and in truth not all cities in the United States currently meet that standard. Usually Long Park is around 15-25 AQI.

According to the U.S. EPA the air quality is acceptable but some sensitive induvials may be impacted. So, if you need to mask up when outdoors for the next few days. The forecast is for air quality to remain impacted from the wildfires in California through the weekend.

The US EPA established the AQI for five major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act. Each of these pollutants has a national air quality standard set by EPA to protect public health:

• ground-level ozone
• particle pollution (also known as particulate matter, including PM2.5 and PM10)
• carbon monoxide
• sulfur dioxide
• nitrogen dioxide

According to the California Air Quality Control Board the data from recent wildfires showen increases in the metal composition of PM2.5 as well. Several recent fires saw significant increases in both lead and zinc. So take care and keep your eye on the air quality.