The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is issuing a dust High Pollution Advisory (HPA) for Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, for coarse particulate matter (PM10) in Maricopa County. This HPA is due to particle pollutant levels expected to accumulate enough to exceed the federal health standard for PM10.
People with heart or lung diseases, older adults and children are most likely to be affected by particle pollution. PM10 particles are so small they are able to travel into the respiratory tract where they can cause short-term health effects such as eye, nose, throat and lung irritation, coughing, sneezing, runny nose and shortness of breath. Exposure to these particles can also affect lung function and worsen medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease.
ADEQ recommends that the general public limit outdoor activity while the HPA is in effect, especially children and adults with respiratory problems.
During this HPA, ADEQ and the Maricopa County Air Quality Department (MCAQD) encourages residents and businesses to use these tips and resources to help make the air healthier to breathe:
- Avoid using leaf blowers
- Avoid activities that generate dust, such as driving on dirt roads and using off-road vehicles
- Avoid wood burning in residential fireplaces, chimineas, outdoor fire pits and similar outdoor fires (including at hotels and restaurants and individuals/businesses that have permits for open burning)
- Drive as little as possible, carpool, use public transit or telecommute
ADEQ and MCAQD also urges businesses conducting dust-generating operations to be vigilant in their dust control measures.
BACKGROUND
- High Pollution Advisory (HPA): Notifies the public that the level of an air pollutant is expected to exceed the federal health standard.
- Health Watch: Notifies the public that the level of an air pollutant is expected to approach the federal health standard.
- Particulate Matter: State and county agencies measure levels of particulate matter (PM) in the air. PM is extremely small solid particles and liquid droplets that circulate in air. PM comes from combustion (cars, industry, wood burning) or dust stirred up into the air. High levels of PM occur when air is especially stagnant or windy. Two types of PM are measured: PM10, commonly called dust, and PM2.5, commonly called soot. PM10 refers to dust particles 10 microns or less and PM2.5 to soot particles 2.5 microns or less. For perspective, one strand of human hair is 70-100 microns in size.
RESOURCES
To sign up to receive air quality forecasts via email and/or text message, please visit: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/AZDEQ/subscriber/new
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CONTACTS
The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) provides a daily forecast for air quality and issues HPAs or Health Watches when these conditions exist. Please visit azdeq.gov/environ/air/ozone/ensemble.pdf or call (602) 771-2367 for tomorrow’s forecast or SUBSCRIBE to receive air quality forecasts via email and/or text message.
CONTACT: Sam Nuanez – (602) 771-4192 desk/(602) 377-0631 cell
The Maricopa County Air Quality Department (MCAQD) is a regulatory agency whose goal is to ensure federal clean air standards are achieved and maintained for the residents and visitors of Maricopa County. The department is governed by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and follows air quality standards set forth by the federal Clean Air Act. The department offers air quality information and resources on its Clean Air Make More website: CleanAirMakeMore.com
CONTACT: Bob Huhn – (602) 506-6713 desk/(602) 526-7307 cell
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