903R90011 EPA REGION III AIR QUALITY TRENDS REPORT ------- United States Region III Environmental Protection Philadelphia, PA 19107 Agency 1990 &EPA EPA Region III Air Quality Trends Report 1990 ------- TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction i Ozone exceedances in several cities 88 vs 89 r Ozone levels rural vs urban areas 1989 2 Exceedances of the ozone standard in Region III states 1983-1989 3 Ozone exceedances in Region III by month 4 CO exceedances in Region III by month 5 1989 actual vs estimated CO levels 6 Total exceedances of 8 hour CO standard 1981-89 7 Where -pollutants come from 8 Comparison of lead levels 1977 vs 1989 9 Comparison of TSP levels 1970 vs 1989 10 Impact of industrial sources on S02 levels in Region III 11 Nitrogen dioxide levels in Region III 1978-1989. 12 Explanation of line graphs with bars 13 Ozone line graphs 14 CO line graphs 16 S02 line graphs 18 PM-10 line graphs 20 ------- INTRODUCTION This report is a followup to the 1989 Trends report but has a different theme. On the twentieth anniversary of Earth Day and EPA this report also includes some historical data showing how the air quality in Region III has changed. EPA's Region III . includes the states of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. This report focuses on the six criteria pollutants that EPA has established standards for. These are listed below: PM-lO(Particulate matter less than 10 microns in size) - General term for solid or liquid particles found in the atmosphere. EPA formerly measured all airborne particulate but now only regulates particulate less than 10 microns. These pose a risk to health because they are small enough to penetrate the most sensitive regions of the respiratory tract. SULFUR DIOXIDE(S02) - Formed from the burning of sulfur containing fuels, mainly coal and oil. SOZ is also associated with many types of respiratory diseases. It is a precursor of acid rain. The main sources of airborne S02 are electric power plants that burn sulfur containing coal or oil and oil refineries. CARBON MONOXIDE(CO) - A colorless, odorless poisonous gas formed when carbon fuels(such as gasoline) are not burned completely. The majority of CO in the atmosphere comes from cars. Even at low levels CO can affect mental functioning, vision and alertness. Smokers, people living at high altitudes and people suffering from lung diseases are more susceptible to the effects of CO. OZONE(03) - Formed in the atmosphere by the reaction of hydrocarbons and nitrogen dioxide(N02) in the presence of sunlight. Ozone is a major problem in the summertime, especially around cities. Most of the ozone in the air comes from automobile emissions, but other sources such as coating plants, dry cleaners and gas stations also contribute to the problem. Ozone irritates the eyes, nose and throat. It directly affects lung functions and can cause respiratory disease. LEAD - EPA's major succesis story in air pollution control. This air pollutant, which has severe effects on the kidneys, nervous system and blood-forming organs, came almost totally from the burning of leaded gasoline in cars. Since 1970 EPA-mandated use of unleaded gasoline has resulted in a 99.5% decrease in the amount of lead used in gasoline. As a result, atmospheric lead levels have decreased over 90%. The only lead sources left in the USA are a few lead smelters and battery plants. Lead emissions at most of these facilities are tightly controlled. ------- NITROGEN DIOXIDE (N02)- Formed when fuel is burned at high temperatures. N02 in the atmosphere comes mainly from automobile emissions and electric utility and industrial boilers. N02 can also cause respiratory problems and combines with hydrocarbons to form ozone. NO, levels in Region III and throughout most of the country are well below EPA standards. The only recent violation of the N02 standard occurred in Los Angeles, California. AIR TRENDS IN REGION III - 1989 PARTICULATE MATTER(PM-IO) - PM-10 levels have remained fairly constant in Region III over the past six years. The only violations of the PM-10 standards are from the industrial areas of Allegheny County(Pittsburgh) Pennsylvania and West Virginia. SULFUR DIOXIDE(S02) - S02 levels have remained fairly constant over the past 6 years. Almost all of Region III is well under EPA's standard. The only area with S02 levels near or above the standard are industrial areas in Pittsburgh and West Virginia. CARBON MONOXIDE(CO) - Average CO levels have decreased between 15 and 30 percent in Region III. This is due mainly to EPA's tightening of CO emission levels from automobiles. The only exceedances of the CO standard occur in cities. CO levels would be much lower if the number of cars was not increasing twice as fast as the population. OZONE(03) - Since ozone forms in the presence of sunlight and warm temperatures it is difficult to pick up the ozone trend. It appears to be declining until there is an unusually hot summer, then there are several violations of the ozone standard. The summers of 1983 and 1988 are good examples. Both were hot, sunny and both had a high number of Ozone violation days. EPA has issued tighter standards on tailpipe and industrial emissions of volatile organic compounds(VOC), which combine with N02 in the presence of sunlight to form Ozone. The major( greater than 100 tons/year) sources of VOC are controlled in nonattainment areas to meet Reasonably Available Control Technology(RACT) requirements. The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 call for the formation of the Northeast Ozone Transport Commission. LEAD(Pb) - Lead levels are well below the EPA standard throughout Region III. Removing lead from gasoline reduced ambient lead to negligible levels. NITROGEN DIOXIDE(N02) - NO2 levels have remained consistently well below the EPA standard in Region III. ii ------- DEFINITIONS Ambient Air - The air that we breathe. The surrounding air which is within 5 to 10 meters of the earth's surface. NAAQS - National Ambient Air Quality Standard. These are standards set by EPA for the six criteria pollutants which should not be exceeded. Exceedances of these levels could have adverse affects on the health and welfare of the people. Criteria Pollutants - The six pollutants for which EPA has set standards(NAAQS's) for. They are carbon monoxide(CO), lead(Pb), nitrogen dioxide(N02), ozone(03), particulate matter less than 10 microns(PM-10) and sulfur dioxide(S02). ug/m3 - Micrograms per cubic meter. ppm - Parts per million. NATIONAL AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS(NAAQS) POLLUTANT PM-10 Sulfur Dioxide (S02) Carbon Monoxide(CO) Ozone (03) Nitrogen Dioxide (N02) Lead(Pb) REPORT CONTENTS AVERAGING TIME Annual Arith. Mean Max 24-hr Average Annual Arith. Mean Maximum 24 hr Avg. Maximum 3 hr Avg. Maximum 8 hr Avg Maximum 1 hr Avg Maximum 1 hr Avg PRIMARY STANDARD (HEALTH RELATED) 50 ug/m3 150 ug/m 80 ug/m3 365 ug/m3 10 xng/irr( 9 ppm) 40 ag/m (35 ppm) SECONDARY STANDARD (WELFARE RELATED) same same 1300 ug/m3 none none Annual Arith. Mean Maximum Arith. Mean averaged over a calendar quarter 0.125 ppm(not to be exceeded more than 3 times in 3 consecutive years in an Air Quality Control Region) 100 ug/m3(0.05 ppm) same 1.5 ug/m same Following this page are a number of graphs showing the recent trends in the six criteria pollutants( PM-10, Ozone, Lead, Carbon Monoxide, Sulfur Dioxide and Nitrogen Dioxide) in Region III. Each graph contains some background and an explanation of what the graph is trying to show. 111 ------- s 8 I i i i I i i ri ri i i i I i ii i I i i i i I i i i i 1 i i i i I i i i i I i i i i o 3 CT 5- -p o *i-il! **IfS ° -U a I 8 53 ^ if HI aSSpft a. » H Is D c -CD mo o> m 00 00 c/)m m 3D D ------- ------- s s ? ------- 8 8 8 8 S N> _* O % 2. > m CD o c_ C z m c_ C g O CO rn 1 o m o m o m m a o •n 82 O (O 00 00 o s 09 O ------- CO HI o i LU LU O 25 o HI 0 o t LLJ CO O D CC Q. I O CO it 1,1, 1,1,1. 3 ------- ------- 1 , 1 , in s a ------- FIGURE 8 WHERE POLLUTANTS COME PROM Components of the six criteria pollutants VOC( OZONE PRECURSOR) TSP T=A\S=0=TAT 3\ =JS. COV3JST 0\ CARBON MONOXIDE NITROGEN DIOXIDE LEAD SULFUR DIOXIDE POLLUTANT Participate Matter smaller than 10 microns (PM-10) iHCUStry MAJOR SOURCES a»Daaa»aaoD Sulfur Dioxide(S02) Pants ourning High Su fur O orCoa Carbon Monoxide(CO) A xi i i i i ir\ Fue Burning Trans oortat on Ozone (03) =1 i 3 Coating P ants Fue Burning Transoortation Lead(Pb) «I Z\ Fue Burning Transoortation Battery P ants anc Sme ters Nitrogen Dioxide(N02) ./I ,1 III IL-A DO " • • Fue Burning Transoortation ------- ------- p Ks I 0) a tu 5 ! ! Si' ------- CT) i D 10 ------- I III 11 ------- 5 S 3 s £ • DIDID 12 ------- EXPLANATION OF LINE GRAPHS WITH BARS The next several pages have graphs like the the one below. On these graphs each point on the line represents the average pollutant level of all the sites. The upper bar show the pollutant concentration at the high site in the state. The lower bar shows the pollutant concentration at the low site in the state. The dotted line represents the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for the pollutant. No nitrogen dioxide or lead graphs are included because their ambient levels are well below the standard and show no definite trend. Concentration PPM 15 12 7 sites HIGH AVERAGE OF ALL 7 SITES EPA STANDARD LINE LOW SITE 1984 1885 1986 1987 1988 1989 13 ------- OZONE FOR DEL, DC, MD AND PA 0.25 0.2 0.15 0.1 0.05 Concentration PPM DELAWARE 5 sites 0.25 0.2 0.15 0.1 0.05 Concentration PPM MARYLAND 1984 1985 1986 198? 1988 1989 Trend in the composite mean and range for the annual second daily maximum 1-hour ozone concentration. 14 sites 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 Trend in the composite mean and range for the annual second daily maximum 1-hour ozone concentration. 0.25 0.2 0.15 0.1 005 Concentration PPM WASHINGTON, DC 2 sites 0.25 0.2 0.15 0.1 0.05 PENNSYLVANIA Concentration PPM (excluding Phila & Pittsburgh) 27 sites 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 Trend in the composite mean and range for the annual second daily maximum 1-hour ozone concentration. 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 Trend in the composite mean and range for the annual second daily maximum 1-hour ozone concentration. 14 ------- OZONE FOR PHILA, ALLEGHENY CO., VA * WVA Concentration PPM ALLEGHENY COUNTY 0.25 0.2 0.15 0.1 0.05 4 sites 0.25 0.2 0.15 0.1 0.05 Concentration PPM VIRGINIA 18 sites 0.25 0.2 0.15 0.1 0.05 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 Trend in the composite mean and range for the annual second daily maximum 1-hour ozone concentration. Concentration PPM PHILADELPHIA 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 3 sites 0.25 Trend in the composite mean and range for the annual second daily maximum 1-hour ozone concentration. Concentration PPM WEST VIRGINIA 0.16 - 0.05 - 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 Trend in the composite mean and range for the annual second daily maximum 1-hour ozone concentration. 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 Trend in the composite mean and range for the annual second daily maximum 1-hour ozone concentration. 15 ------- CARBON MONOXIDE FOR DE, DC, MD & PA Concentration PPM DELAWARE 15 NAAQS 15 12 Concentration PPM MARYLAND 1884 1885 1686 1887 1888 1888 1884 1885 1868 1887 1888 1888 Trend in the composite mean and range for the Mcond highest Trend in the composite mean and range for the stcond highest nonoverlapplng 8-hour average carbon monoxide concentration, nonoverlapping 6-hour average carbon monoxide concentration. WASHINGTON, DC Concentration PPM (1988 data invalid) 16 12 NAAQS 1884 1885 1888 1887 1888 1889 16 12 PENNSYLVANIA Concentration PPM (excluding Phila & Pittsburgh) NAAQS 1684 1865 1866 1887 1868 1666 Trend In the composite mean and range for the second highest _ .. .. „ . ... ... . . M * Trend In the composite mean and range for the second highest nonoverlapplng 8-hour average carbon monoxide concentration, nonoverlapping 8-hour average carbon monoxide concentration. 16 ------- CARBON MONOXIDE FOR ALLEGHENY CO, PHILA, VA * WV Concentration PPM ALLEGHENY COUNTY Concentration PPM VIRGINIA 16 4 sites NAAQS 12 12 sites NAAQS IBM 1086 1086 1087 1068 1080 1084 1085 1088 1087 1088 1080 Trend in the composite mean and range for the second highest Tr«n«l in *• composite mean and range tor the second highest nonoverlapping 8-nour average carbon monoxide concentration. nonoverlapping 8-hour average carbon monoxide concentration. 16 12 Concentration PPM PHILADELPHIA 6 sites NAAQS 16 12 Concentration PPM WEST VIRGINIA 3 sites NAAQS 1084 1085 1088 1087 1088 1080 '"M 1»85 1088 1087 1088 1089 Trend in the composite mean and range for the second highest Trend in the composite mean and range for the second highest nonoverlapping 8-hour average carbon monoxide concentration, nonoverlapping 8-hour average carbon monoxide concentration. 17 ------- SULFUR DIOXIDE FOR DE, DC, MD * PA ug/m3 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 1084 DELAWARE PPM 8 sites NAAQS 0.03 0.02 0.01 1985 1988 198? 1988 1989 Trend in the composite mean and range for the annual arithmetic average sulfur dioxide concentration. ug/m3 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 1984 MARYLAND PPM 6 sites NAAQS 1 0.03 0.02 0.01 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 Trend in the composite mean and range for the annual arithmetic average sulfur dioxide concentration. 1984 PENNSYLVANIA -*""" WASHINGTON, DC rrm ug/na (excluding Phila & Pittsburgh) lUw 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 'm 2 sites NAAQS " - - » » •"T ^^f- j£ -jb^I^ "^^_L |^ " - IWW 90 0.03 80 70 60 002 50 40 30 0.01 20 10 0 25 sites § B wwm . . . • m » ^•M J- . - . • • f wtm *. ••• ••» m^ «B^ ^ "^ 1 i i^ •^ ^« i^ J H« •» — • •• •i^ 1 •^ ^BH ~ -. •1 ^^ • • • PPM 0.03 0.02 001 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1984 1085 1986 1987 1988 1989 Trend in the composite mean and range for the annual arithmetic average sulfur dioxide concentration. Trend in the composite mean and range for the annual arithmetic average sulfur dioxide concentration. 18 ------- SULFUR DIOXIDE FOR PHILA, ALLEGHENY CO, VA 4 WVA ALLEGHENY COUNTY 100 90 f 80 M 70 60 90 40 30 20 10 h 7 sites NAAQS 0.03 0.02 0.01 1964 19B5 IBM 1967 1B68 i8t Trend in the composite mean and range for the annual arithmetic average sulfur dioxide concentration. PHILADELPHIA 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 7 sites NAAQS 0.03 0.02 0.01 1984 1985 1986 1987 1968 1989 Trend In the composite mean and range for the annual arithmetic average sulfur dioxide concentration. ug/ 90 80 70 80 50 40 30 20 10 713 VIRGINIA 1 1 sites NAAQS • • - - m* mtjmt ' T" mf ^» — T T -111 PPM 0.03 0.02 0.01 1984 1885 1886 1887 1988 1989 Trend in the composite mean and range for the annual arithmetic average sulfur dioxide concentration. tg 106 100 M 80 70 60 SO 40 30 20 10 n w3 WEST VIRGINIA !"-,- 12 sites ~T . » - - - _ ^m <•• "T" 1 ^— — - M* mm* ^•^. •» • *• NAAQS -• — '-» mm PPM 0.03 0.02 001 1984 1985 1986 1987 1986 1989 Trend in the composite mean and range for the annual arithmetic average sulfur dioxide concentration. 19 ------- PNMO FOR MD, DE, VA & WV PM-10 has replaced TSP as an EPA criteria pollutant. This is the airborne particuaite matter less than 10 microns. Participate this small pose a threat to health because they are small enough to enter the most sensitive regions of the respiratory tract Concentration ug/m3 MARYLAND VIRGINIA 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 1 I 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 4 sites NAAQS . •« •» • — » m^ M* — mmm ^mm **** 4B^ immp mm , mm* m* 1885 1886 1887 1886 1888 'rend in the composite mean and range for the max >4-hour PM-10 concentration. Concentration ug/m3 DELAWARE 3 sites ,••••••••••••••••1 ,r-*_ • S' m m 1 * * ...... .Ntt9§ .... \1 ^v •M mm ** mm .A **^ u. zoo 180 180 140 120 100 80 80 40 20 0 Tr mum 2< 250 228 200 ITS 150 12S 100 76 SO 25 0 13 sites . • • • M m mm — — - •» •• M • -^ m* m » • NAAQS • m m> 1885 1986 1887 1888 1988 end in the composite mean and range for the maximum l-hour PM-10 concentration. Concentration ug/m3 WEST VI RG I N I A • mm m • • *• ^— ~~ _ — mmi mm —•—•—•• 4 sites mm • . mmmmmt •1 •• NAAQS *• ^ ^ , i 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 Trend in the composite mean and range for the maximum Trencj jn tne composite mean and range for the maximum 24-hour PM-10 concentration. 24-hour PM-10 concentration. 20 ------- PM-10 FOR PH1LA, ALLEGHENY CO, * PA PM-10 has replaced TSP as an EPA criteria pollutant. This Is the airborne partlcualte matter less than 10 microns. Paniculate this small pose a threat to health because they are small enough to enter the most sensitive regions of the respiratory tract. 250 225 200 175 150 125 100 75 50 25 0 Concentration ug/m3 PHILADELPHIA 4 sites 1885 1888 1867 1MB 1888 Concentration tQ/m3 ALLEGHENY COUNTY Trend in the composite mean and range for the maximum 24-hour PM-10 concentration, 1965 25U 229 200 17S 150 125 inn 75 so 25 0 » • L. • • •• » • 13! r* M M sites / / M • tlltd«'>nl/ M • • 3W.fi/mD NAAQS "--- 4 M IBM 1967 19SS 1989 Trend In the composite mean and range for the maximum 24-hour PM-10 concentration, 280 22B 200 175 150 125 100 75 60 25 0 Concentration ug/rn3 PENNSYLVANIA (excluding Phila & Pittsburgh) 11 sites NAAQS 1965 11)66 1967 1968 1969 Trend in the composite mean and range for the maximum 24-hour PM-10 concentration. 21 ------- |