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An Overview of Maryland’s Air Quality

An Overview of Maryland’s Air Quality. Marcia Ways Manager, Mobile Sources Control Program Air & Radiation Management Administration. Maryland’s Air Quality. Ozone levels in Maryland are very high Fine particulate levels are high Air pollution contributes significantly to Bay pollution.

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An Overview of Maryland’s Air Quality

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  1. An Overview of Maryland’s Air Quality Marcia Ways Manager, Mobile Sources Control Program Air & Radiation Management Administration

  2. Maryland’s Air Quality • Ozone levels in Maryland are very high • Fine particulate levels are high • Air pollution contributes significantly to Bay pollution

  3. Ozone Formation

  4. 8-Hour Ozone NAAs Baltimore Region Washington County EAC Cecil County (Philadelphia NAA) Kent and Queen Anne’s County Region Washington DC Region

  5. Health Effects of Ozone • Ozone interferes with normal lung functioning, aggravates respiratory diseases, and causes eye irritation. • Most common symptom is pain from taking a deep breath. • Long term exposure to ozone may lead to premature aging of the lungs.

  6. Other Effects of Ozone • Ozone causes damage to vegetation, degrades water quality and reduces visibility. • Ozone damages plant life and is responsible for 500 million dollars in reduced crop production in the United States each year.

  7. Fine Particulate Matter • Particles are very small objects found in the air, including dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets.  • Our respiratory system filters out larger particles. • Smaller particles get trapped in the lungs, while the smallest are so tiny they pass through the lungs into the blood stream.

  8. PM2.5 Nonattainment Areas Baltimore Region Washington Region Washington County Nonattainment Area

  9. Health Effects of Particles Particles may trigger or cause significant health problems: • coughing and difficult or painful breathing • aggravated asthma, bronchitis, emphysema • decreased lung function • weakening of the heart, heart attacks • premature death

  10. Other Effects of Particles • Visibility Impairment • PM is the major cause of reduced visibility (haze) in parts of the United States, including many of our national parks.  • Aesthetic Damage • Soot, a type of PM, stains and damages stone and other materials, including objects such as monuments and statues. • Plant Damage • PM can form a film on plant leaves interfering with photosynthesis and plant growth

  11. Good News Maryland has implemented one of the country’s most aggressive set of air pollution control regulations • Power plants to hair spray and perfume • Over 50 different regulations since 1990 Emissions in Maryland have been cut by about 40% since 1990 • National average is about 20% • The result of aggressive local controls over the past 20 years Recent settlement will result in about a 70% reduction in NOx emissions from Mirant’s Maryland power plants (year round NOx controls)

  12. What have we done lately? • MD’s Latest Additions • OTC AIM • OTC Consumer Products • OTC Gas Cans • Solvent Cleaning Regulation • Mobile Equipment Refinishing Regulation • Regional Controls still require local implementation and enforcement

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