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Air Quality Index Forecasts Now Available in 17 Pacific Northwest Cities

Release Date: 9/30/2003
Contact Information: John Millett
millett.john@epamail.epa.gov
(202) 564-7842

September 30, 2003 Year-round particle pollution level forcasts now being predicted in more than 100 U.S. cities

Beginning Oct. 1 new information on air quality will be available year-round in more than 100 U.S. cities. As part of an ongoing effort to protect the American public from air pollution, the Environmental Protection Agency, together with state and local governments, is expanding current air quality forecasts to include daily information on particle pollution.

"The Bush Administration is working to further improve air quality by continuing to reduce car and truck emissions and developing new standards for non-road diesel vehicles in addition to a number of other efforts," said EPA Acting Administrator Marianne Horinko. "Monitoring and emissions data show tremendous air quality improvement over the past three decades, but there's more to do. As our work progresses, the expanded Air Quality Index forecasts will help millions of people protect their health – especially people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children," Horinko said. The Air Quality Index, or AQI, is a color-coded system designed to inform the public about daily air pollution levels in their communities. During the summer months, local broadcast meteorologists in nearly 300 U.S. cities use the AQI to provide daily ozone forecasts as part of their weather casts. Beginning Oct. 1, the use of the AQI will be expanded to include daily, year-round forecasts for particle pollution. EPA has worked with state and local governments to make this information available for more than 100 cities. EPA expects this number to grow in the coming months as additional areas begin forecasting.

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Unlike ozone pollution, which is known to be highest during the summer months, particle pollution can vary throughout the year. While unhealthy levels occur on only a limited number of days, the expanded AQI forecasts give people the information they need to protect their health all year.

"Particle pollution" refers to a mixture of microscopic solids and liquid droplets found in the air. Particles can be emitted directly – such as in smoke – or form when gases react in the atmosphere. Particle pollution comes from a number of sources, including cars and trucks, industry, fires, and power plants. Some of these particles, known as fine particles, can reach deep into the lungs, where they can affect both the lungs and the heart.

The EPA has already taken a number of actions to reduce particle pollution, including setting new stringent standards for cars and heavy-duty diesel trucks and buses. Similar tough standards are being developed for diesel engines used in large non-road equipment. The EPA's annual air trends report and latest acid rain data show steady and significant air quality improvement. Since 1970, emissions of the six principle air pollutants have been cut 48 percent. According to EPA acid rain program data, in 2002 SO2 emissions from power plants were nine percent lower than in 2000 and 41 percent lower than 1980. NOx emissions from power plants also continued a downward trend, measuring 4.5 million tons in 2002, a 13 percent reduction from 2000 and a 33 percent decline from 1990 emissions levels. EPA is also in the process of implementing the nation's first standards for fine particles that are 2.5 micrometers in diameter and smaller. In addition, President Bush has proposed the Clear Skies Act of 2003 – an innovative and aggressive program to reduce emissions from power plants. If passed by Congress, Clear Skies would achieve immediate and dramatic reductions in particle pollution.

High levels of particle pollution can affect the health of nearly every American, however certain groups, including people with heart or lung disease; older adults; and children, can also be at risk at lower levels. Particle pollution has been linked to asthma attacks, chronic bronchitis, changes in heart rate, arrhythmias and heart attacks, among other health problems.

Air quality forecasts are available on local television stations, on state and local air quality agency web sites, on USA Today's weather page and on The Weather Channel. Forecasts, health information, and maps showing real-time particle levels also are available on EPA's AIRNow web site.

The following is an initial list of 17 cities and metropolitan areas in the Pacific Northwest that will be issuing AQI forecasts year-round:

Idaho Coeur dAlene Lewiston Pocatello Twin Falls Idaho Falls Boise Oregon Portland

Washington Aberdeen Bremerton-Silverdale-Bainbridge Everett-Marysville-Lynnwood Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater Port Angeles Port Townsend Seattle-Bellevue-Kent Valley Shelton Spokane Tacoma-Puyallup

Other areas around the United States include:

Birmingham AL Phoenix AZ Los Angeles CA Modesto CA Oakland CA Sacramento CA San Diego CA San Francisco CA San Jose CA Stockton CA Denver CO Bridgeport CT Danbury CT Hartford CT Middletown CT New Haven CT New London - Groton CT Stafford CT Torrington CT Washington DC Wilmington DE Miami FL Orlando FL Tampa FL West Palm Beach FL Atlanta GA Honolulu HI Des Moines IA Indianapolis IN Chicago IL Peoria IL Rockford IL Springfield IL New Orleans LA Boston MA Springfield MA Worcester MA Baltimore MD Bangor ME Lewiston - Auburn ME Portland ME

Detroit MI Minneapolis-St.Paul MN Kansas City MO St. Louis MO Charlotte NC Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point NC Brentwood NH Claremont NH Concord NH Conway NH Haverhill NH Keene NH Laconia NH Manchester NH Nashua NH Pittsburg NH Portsmouth NH Rye NH Stafford County NH Atlantic City NJ Bayonne NJ Camden NJ Cherry Hill NJ Clifton NJ East Orange NJ Elizabeth NJ Hackensack NJ Jersey City NJ Millville NJ Nacote Cr. - Brig. NJ New Jersey Northern New Jersey Southern Newark NJ Passaic NJ Paterson NJ Perth Amboy NJ Plainfield NJ Ramapo NJ Rider University NJ Rutgers University NJ Trenton NJ Union City NJ Vineland NJ

Las Vegas NV Albany NY Babylon NY Base-White Mountain NY Belleayre Mountain NY Buffalo NY Camden NY Camp Georgetown NY Dunkirk NY Middleport NY New York NY Rochester NY Syracuse NY Westfield NY Whiteplains NY Williamson NY Cincinnati OH Cleveland OH Columbus OH Dayton OH Lawton OK Oklahoma City OK Tulsa OK Philadelphia PA Pittsburgh PA Newport RI Providence RI West Greenwich RI Memphis TN Nashville TN Dallas TX Houston TX Austin TX San Antonio TX Victoria TX El Paso TX Tyler-Longview-Marshall TX Corpus Christi TX Beaumont TX Salt Lake City UT Bennington VT Burlington VT