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Air Quality Forecasting Program and Ozone Season 2004

Air Quality Forecasting Program and Ozone Season 2004. COG Board of Directors May 12, 2004 Joan Rohlfs, Chief Air Quality Planning. Presentation Topics. Health-based standards for air pollutants Forecasting Program Public Education through Clean Air Partners

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Air Quality Forecasting Program and Ozone Season 2004

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  1. Air Quality ForecastingProgram andOzone Season 2004 COG Board of Directors May 12, 2004 Joan Rohlfs, Chief Air Quality Planning

  2. Presentation Topics • Health-based standards for air pollutants • Forecasting Program • Public Education through Clean Air Partners • Change in Forecasting Procedures • Local Government Actions on Code Red Forecast Days

  3. Clean Air Act Amendments 1990 EPA set federal health standards for ambient pollutants CO SO2 NOx Ozone ParticulateMatter Lead

  4. 2 Status of Air Quality in Washington Region 1990 140% 2003 120% Health Standard 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 1-Hour Ozone Lead SO2 NO2 PM10 CO 8-Hour Ozone

  5. Air Quality is Monitored and Forecasted • State air agencies and localities monitor air constantly at 17 regional locations • Meteorologists conduct daily forecast calls to predict tomorrow’s air quality • Purpose: alert public 24 hours in advance of an ozone episode

  6. View current county-level air quality data atwww.air-watch.net Real-Time Air Quality Data

  7. Educate the public about the health effects of ozone and motivate employers and individuals to take actions to improve air quality. Originally created as ENDZONE Partners by MWAQC and TPB in 1994, the organization was chartered by COG and BMC as Clean Air Partners in 1997. BMC – COG - DC-DOH – DDOT – MDE – MDOT – VDEQ - VDOT

  8. Communicate Air Quality Information 500 Public/Private Partners Prevent Air Quality Code Red Days

  9. Local Government Actions on Code Red Days • Provide daily notice of air quality forecast • Encourage employee use of public transit, car/van pool to and from work • Postpone asphalt paving, resurfacing • Postpone use of oil-based paint, solvents • Postpone use of gas-powered landscaping equipment (mowing, trimming) • Refueling after dusk

  10. Photo courtesy US EPA New Pollutant Standards • EPA is adopting two more protective air quality standards • Forecasting for these standards begins this summer • Air quality plans will be developed soon • 8-Hour Ozone Standard • Particle Pollution(< 2.5 micrometers)

  11. Comparison of Ozone Standards 1-hr Ozone Standard • Protects against shorter-term exposure • Higher ozone limit measured over shorter time • Exceedance known at end of hour 8-hr Ozone Standard • Protects against chronic exposure • Lower limit over a longer period of time • Exceedance known at end of day

  12. 8-Hour vs. 1-Hour Ozone Exceedances (1993-2003 Washington Region Data) 52 47 39 38 29 29 24 20 18 10 7 60 50 40 30 Number of Exceedance Days 20 9 8 10 7 6 6 6 4 3 3 2 1 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 1-Hour Exceedance 8-Hour Exceedance

  13. 4 8-Hour Ozone Calendar (2003)

  14. The New Forecast Approach • An Ozone Action Day will be called at an AQI level of 151 (Code Red). • An Ozone Action Day will be called if the next day is forecasted to be a “High Orange” (AQI of 125) AND the following day is forecasted to be a Code Red.

  15. How Many Code Red Action Days Could We Have?(1998-2003 Washington Region Data)

  16. What is Code Purple? (1998-2003 Washington Region Data) Active adults and kids – and adults and children with lung disease like asthma – are sensitive to air pollution and should avoid all outdoor exertion while we are in the purple range.

  17. Code Red and Orange Particle Days Washington, DC

  18. Addressing The Multi-Pollutant Issue • Forecasts will be issued using the Air Quality Index (AQI) color codes. • Primary pollutant on hotline and fax. • Both pollutants on the web site. • Integrated health message to address both ozone and particles. EPA’s Air Quality Index Reporting Rule: Final August 4, 1999

  19. Sample Washington Press Release • Air Quality Report • Health Message • Ozone Prevention Tips • Contact Information

  20. Code Red Health Actionsfor Local Governments • Need consistent policy for program involving children, students and outdoor activities during the summer. • Should athletic practices be cancelled or postponed? • Should day camps move activities indoors?

  21. Integrated Health Message • People with HEART OR LUNG DISEASE, older adults, children, and even healthy adults may experience health effects when air pollution levels are high (Code Orange or worse). Should air quality exceed the federal health standard, an Air Quality Code Red Health Advisory will be issued advising the following precautions: • Children and older adults should reduce outdoor activities. • Healthy individuals should limit strenuous work or exercise, especially outdoors. • Individuals with respiratory and heart ailments, emphysema, asthma, or chronic bronchitis should limit their activity level.

  22. Conclusions 2004 will be a transition year from 1-hour to 8-hour ozone forecasting “Ozone Action Day” becomes “Air Quality Action Day” to include particles

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