Utah Moms for Clean Air

Green? Magenta? 24-hour averages? Air quality data is constantly being updated online from a few stations around the state, and with a little orientation we each can get the information we want and make sense of it.

There are two websites that provide current information on air quality in our area, one sponsored by the Utah Department of Air Quality and the other by the EPA. The DAQ website provides both straightforward interpretations of air conditions and, if you dig, the most technical information if you would like to become handy at predicting air quality and health hazards for yourself. The EPA also uses data collected by the DAQ and displays a simplified readout as well as some specific pollutant levels, but processes the data by a different formula.

The DAQ Website, www.airquality.utah.gov
The welcome page at the DAQ shows an overall prediction for how severe the air pollution is for the next three days, ranked as Green, Yellow, or Red. This is the simplest digest of the pollution hazard level for our area, but it’s only as accurate as the weather information it’s based on. (When the weather report says it’s raining today, it’s probably right! Tomorrow, well, you know how it goes.) Once at the site, you may choose your favorite Wasatch Front region. Utah has its own color coding for air quality conditions: 0 – 24 micrograms/cubic meter concentration of PM2.5 is considered Green, 25 – 34 ug/m3 is Yellow, and 35+ ug/m3 is Red. As you may guess, the cutoffs are somewhat arbitrary and subject to change—and the more studies reveal about the hazards of breathing air pollution, the lower those cutoffs will get shifted.

The “Current Conditions” button brings you to a thermometer-type readout of the current levels of whichever air pollutant is prevalent (usually PM2.5 in the winter and ozone in the summer.) This is a 1-hr average readout, and is updated hourly. The live photo is cool. If you want to know what you’re breathing when you open the door right now, this is your number. Check your nearest skyline to see what this pollution level looks like!

The “Trends” button is for you data heads. Graphs showing the levels of 3 criteria pollutants, PM2.5, ozone, and nitrogen oxides (NOx) over the last 5 days let you see the daily rise and fall over time of day and weather patterns. For two of the pollutants there is a second data line, of 8-hr and 24-hr averages (for ozone and PM2.5, respectively) that is simply the average of the 1-hr numbers from the previous 8 or 24 hours. The 8-hr and 24-hr averages are important for two reasons: one, the longer averages say more about our overall exposure to the pollutant, and two, averages are what get evaluated by the EPA, with vast financial and legal ramifications for the State if we are in “non-attainment” too often.

The EPA Website, www.airnow.gov
Lastly, the EPA uses a numerical Air Quality Index, or AQI, that is derived from the longer average level of each pollutant. For example, you can see EPA’s assessment of Salt Lake City. The number, which is NOT the actual concentration of any one pollutant, corresponds to a Life Saver color describing grades of health hazard (as described here.) The AQI is meant to give you a standardized estimate of the day’s health risk regardless of the actual pollutant, so the scale is the same in winter (PM season) and summer (ozone season). Since the EPA gets its data from our own DAQ, the only difference is interpretation.

Day after Red Air Quality Day, you will see “no burn day” or “wood burning prohibited.” Burning wood contributes to air pollution. When and how you burn solid fuel does make a difference.

If you see that neighbors are burning solid fuel on Red Air Quality Day, you might remind them that such burning is prohibited. When your kind reminders don’t work, remember that you can report violations.

When we have a red Air Quality Alert day, you can report people you see burning in their solid residential fuel devices by calling 801-536-4000 and asking to file a complaint. If it is after hours or you prefer not to call, you can also use the web based complaint form.

The penalty for most residential solid fuel burning violations is $25 for the first violation and doubling each time thereafter until the maximum of $299 is reached. Inspectors from the Division of Air Quality have to actually witness the violation in order for a citation to be issued. You may file your complaints anonymously or using your name. If you have further questions, contact the Utah Division of Air Quality or call their general number 801-536-4000 and ask to speak to a compliance inspector.

The EPA found that turning off school bus engines while waiting produced less pollution than idling the engine. You may have read the story about a Sandy, Utah, 6th grader who started his own no idling campaign at his school.

Most people don’t understand that they can save money and energy by turning off their engines. You can help. First, you can turn off your own engine. Then, you can start your own campaign to educate those around you. Start Your Own No Idling Campaign. If a 6th grader can do it, surely you can, too.

We have created a friendly anti-idling postcard you can hand out when you meet people sitting in cars, buses or trucks with the engine idling. There is no reason to be confrontational. Just help the driver understand the facts by handing them a postcard.

• 50% OF AIR POLLUTION IN UTAH comes from vehicle exhaust
• Studies link air pollution from vehicles to increased rates of CANCER, HEART AND LUNG DISEASES
• CHILDREN ARE MORE VULNERABLE . . . their lungs are still developing and because they breathe more rapidly they inhale more pollution than adults
• Idling is expensive and hard on your engine. . . one hour of idling burns one gallon of gasoline and gets ZERO MILES PER GALLON

Help drivers understand that they can make a difference.

• More than 10 seconds of idling consumes more fuel than restarting your engine. . . TURN IT OFF
• Modern engines need less than 30 seconds of idling before driving on winter days. . . REDUCE WARM-UP IDLING
• Talk to your family, friends, and neighbors about the benefits of reduced idling. . . SPREAD THE WORD

Don’t stop there. Gather more information for Your Own No Idling Campaign. The Environmental Protection Agency and many states have created resources and models you can follow. These are a few of the best.

EPA’s National Idle-Reduction Campaign, part of their Clean School Bus USA Campaign - sample policy, Idle-Reduction Campaign Do-it-Yourself Kit, teacher’s guide and curriculum, and other great resources

Pennsylvania Clean Air Council - details of their School Bus Anti-idling Campaign, success stories, and great resources

Idle-Free Vermont - Explicit step-by-step instructions for creating your own no idling campaign

Vermont 10% Challenge (scroll a bit to reach “No-Idling Campaign) - information, brochure, flyer, sample policy

If you start Your Own No Idling Campaign, let us know. We’ll encourage other Utahns by telling them your story.

Utah Department of Environmental Quality and the Bear River Health Department have issued the following air quality alerts.

CACHE County: Air quality condition as issued by the Bear River Health Dept.: YELLOW
Health advisory: none

SALT LAKE & DAVIS counties: Air quality condition: RED
Health advisory: Sensitive people (those with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children) should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors.

UTAH County: Air quality condition: YELLOW
Health advisory: none

WEBER County: Air quality condition: GREEN
Health advisory: none

Wood burning is prohibited today in Salt Lake and Davis Counties. All of those in Cache, Davis, Salt Lake, and Utah Counties are requested to drive less in order to reduce their contribution to the pollution hanging in our valleys.

For twice daily updates, call the Air Pollution Hotlines.

1. Residents in Salt Lake and Davis counties may call (801) 975-4009.
2. Residents in Utah and Weber counties may call (800) 228-5434.
3. Residents in Cache County may call (435) 792-6612.

Tuesday, December 18, is anticipated by the Utah Department of Environmental Quality to be a Yellow Air Quality Action Day.

You can get updates on air quality by calling the Air Pollution Hotline below (updated twice daily), or check the national Air Now site (updated every hour or so).

More information is also available on the Air Pollution Hotline. Air Quality conditions are updated twice daily, once in the morning and again in the afternoon.
1. Residents in Salt Lake and Davis counties may call (801) 975-4009.
2. Residents in Utah and Weber counties may call (800) 228-5434.
3. Residents in Cache County may call (435) 792-6612.

No one who today found it difficult to see the base of the Wasatch Mountains through brown air will be surprised that tomorrow, Wednesday, is anticipated by the Utah Department of Environmental Quality to be a Yellow Air Quality day for Salt Lake and Davis Counties. This means Salt Lake and Davis residents have a voluntary no-burn day Wednesday, when wood burning is neither prohibited nor allowed.

CACHE County: Air quality condition as issued by the Bear River Health Dept.: GREEN
Health advisory: none

SALT LAKE & DAVIS counties: Air quality condition: YELLOW
Health advisory: none

UTAH County: Air quality condition: GREEN
Health advisory: none

WEBER County: Air quality condition: GREEN
Health advisory: none

Air quality condition and health advisories are issued separately. Utah DAQ has issued no health advisory for Wednesday. There is, however, a health advisory for Salt Lake City on the U.S. government Air Now website, which reports air quality as monitored locally. Air Now reports that because of anticipated moderate levels of PM2.5 (Particulate Matter of 2.5 microns in size),

Health Message: Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion.

How do you interpret those messages? No wood burning seems clear, even if voluntary. But, who should consider reducing their exposure to Utah’s dirty air on Wednesday, if anyone?

The Utah Division of Air Quality has issued a YELLOW air quality alert for Salt Lake and Davis Counties today.

If you are interested in air quality during the day, conditions are updated twice daily for the public. Get this information by calling the following hotline or checking air monitoring online.

Air Pollution Hotline
1. Residents in Salt Lake and Davis counties may call (801) 975-4009.
2. Residents in Utah and Weber counties may call (800) 228-5434.
3. Residents in Cache County may call (435) 792-6612.

Keep in mind that that data is not necessarily current for this moment. You can get hourly reports for particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and ozone, but these reports are often posted many hours later.

Check the national Air Now site for a quick view of the daily air pollution forecast.

It’s warm during the day, cool at night, and the air is generally clean*. Let the fresh air in. The national Energy Star campaign sent the following tip yesterday.

Let the fresh air in. Take advantage of extended periods of time during the fall when it’s not too hot or cold outside by giving your heating or cooling system a break and opening up the windows for a little fresh air. Heating and cooling your home amounts to about half of the average home’s annual energy costs!

*As always, how clean the air is on the Wasatch Front is relative. Get the details any day from Air Now, which uses local air monitoring data. As I write early Thursday, “clean air” means:

• PM2.5 level of 32 - particulate matter of 2.5 micrometers in diameter that can be breathed into the lungs; and
• Ozone level of 14 - ground-level ozone.