AMATS Air Quality Update

April 2012

Municipality of Anchorage

Department of Health and Human Services

Status ReportStatus Report

Carbon monoxide (CO)Carbon monoxide (CO) Particulate matter (PMParticulate matter (PM1010 & PM & PM2.52.5))

OzoneOzone Airborne lead Airborne lead Air toxics (benzene)Air toxics (benzene)

Sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxideSulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide

COCO

Colorless odorless gas Colorless odorless gas produced by incomplete produced by incomplete combustioncombustion

79% of emissions from 79% of emissions from motor vehiclesmotor vehicles

Highest concentrations Highest concentrations occur on cold mid-winter occur on cold mid-winter days with strong days with strong temperature inversions temperature inversions

Residential areas tend to Residential areas tend to have highest concentrationshave highest concentrations

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

2nd

max

8-h

r av

era

ge

(pp

m)

CO NAAQS = 9 ppm

1996

Anchorage CO Trend

Metropolitan Area

Highest 8-hour Concentration

(ppm)

2nd Highest 8-hour

Concentration(ppm)

Number of Exceedances of the

NAAQS

Anchorage, AK 6.9 6.1 0

Fairbanks, AK 5.0 4.1 0

Las Vegas, NV 3.4 3.0 0

Phoenix, AZ 3.3 3.2 0

El Paso, TX 3.3 2.8 0

Denver, CO 3.1 2.4 0

Ogden, UT 2.4 1.9 0

Reno, NV 2.4 2.1 0

Portland, OR 2.4 2.4 0

Spokane, WA 2.3 1.9 0

Salt Lake City, UT 2.2 1.9 0

Albuquerque, NM 2.0 2.0 0

Sacramento, CA 1.9 1.9 0

Seattle, WA 0.8 0.7 0

Comparison with CO Concentrations in Selected Western Cities in U.S. (2010)

PMPM1010 and PM and PM2.52.5

Width of human hairWidth of human hair Linked with asthma and other Linked with asthma and other

respiratory health problemsrespiratory health problems

Death rates in hospitals Death rates in hospitals

increase when PMincrease when PM2.52.5

concentrations are highconcentrations are high

Anchorage studies show that Anchorage studies show that

there are more doctor visits for there are more doctor visits for

asthma when PMasthma when PM1010 levels levels

increaseincrease

PM2.5

(2.5 µm)PM10

(10µm)

PMPM1010 Occasional violations of the NAAQS Occasional violations of the NAAQS

in spring at Tudor Road site due to in spring at Tudor Road site due to road dust. road dust.

Magnesium chloride is being used to Magnesium chloride is being used to suppress dust along 40 miles of high suppress dust along 40 miles of high volume roadways in Anchorage and volume roadways in Anchorage and Eagle River.Eagle River.

Eagle River regularly violated Eagle River regularly violated NAAQS in late-1980’s before roads NAAQS in late-1980’s before roads were pavedwere paved

Strong winds transported dust from Strong winds transported dust from glacial river valleys in Mat Su glacial river valleys in Mat Su causing exceedances of NAAQS in causing exceedances of NAAQS in 2003, 2007, 2009, and 2010.2003, 2007, 2009, and 2010.

September 24, 2010MODIS satellite image

PMPM2.52.5

Generally low concentrations in Generally low concentrations in Anchorage (ranked 6Anchorage (ranked 6thth cleanest city for cleanest city for year-round PMyear-round PM2.52.5 pollution by ALA) pollution by ALA)

CC1414 analysis of Anchorage samples analysis of Anchorage samples

suggests that most PMsuggests that most PM2.52.5 is from wood is from wood

smokesmoke

Assembly passed outdoor wood boiler Assembly passed outdoor wood boiler ordinance restricting installations to ordinance restricting installations to those meeting EPA-certified Phase 2 those meeting EPA-certified Phase 2 standards. standards.

NESCAUM 2006

No obvious upward or downward trend No obvious upward or downward trend in PMin PM1010 or PM or PM2.52.5 during past 10 years during past 10 years

PM10

0

50

100

150

200

2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011

2n

d m

ax (

ug

/m3

)

PM10 NAAQS = 150 ug/m3

PM2.5

0

10

20

30

40

2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011

98

th p

erc

en

tile

(u

g/m

3)

PM2.5 NAAQS = 35 ug/m3

Ozone (OOzone (O33)) Secondary pollutant produced by a Secondary pollutant produced by a

chemical reaction between oxides of chemical reaction between oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic nitrogen and volatile organic compounds in the presence of compounds in the presence of sunlight.sunlight.

Ozone in stratosphere protects us Ozone in stratosphere protects us from UV from UV

Causes respiratory irritation, Causes respiratory irritation, coughing, pain coughing, pain

Highest concentrations seen Highest concentrations seen downwind of major urban centers in downwind of major urban centers in summersummer

OO33 levels in Anchorage and Eagle levels in Anchorage and Eagle River were among the lowest 1% of River were among the lowest 1% of sites in U.S. sites in U.S.

Ozone is the main Ozone is the main ingredient in “smog.”ingredient in “smog.”

Airborne LeadAirborne Lead EPA study of 15 mid-sized EPA study of 15 mid-sized

airports serving piston airports serving piston aircraftaircraft

Unlike gasoline, aviation fuel Unlike gasoline, aviation fuel still contains lead additivestill contains lead additive

One-year study at Merrill One-year study at Merrill Field will conclude Oct 2012Field will conclude Oct 2012

Will not be used to assess Will not be used to assess attainment with the new attainment with the new ambient lead standardambient lead standard

Preliminary data suggest Preliminary data suggest that concentrations at Merrill that concentrations at Merrill Field are below standardField are below standard

Air toxics (benzene)Air toxics (benzene) DHHS is monitoring ambient benzene to assess impact of DHHS is monitoring ambient benzene to assess impact of

new EPA limits on the amount of benzene in gasolinenew EPA limits on the amount of benzene in gasoline

Phase 2 (planned)Phase 2 (planned) Aug 2012 – Aug 2013Aug 2012 – Aug 2013

Gasoline benzene <1.3%Gasoline benzene <1.3%

How much will ambient benzene How much will ambient benzene concentrations be reduced?concentrations be reduced?

Phase 1 (completed)Phase 1 (completed) Oct 2008 – Oct 2009Oct 2008 – Oct 2009

Gasoline benzene Gasoline benzene ≈ ≈ 5%5%

Found average ambient benzene Found average ambient benzene levels at Garden site in Airport levels at Garden site in Airport Heights to be in 98Heights to be in 98thth percentile of percentile of U.S. sites U.S. sites

Garden site(Anchorage)

Annual Average [benzene] = 1.1 ppb

Galena Park, TX(near Houston)

Annual Average [benzene] = 1.1 ppb

SummarySummary

CO has fallen dramatically and is expected to continue to decline, CO has fallen dramatically and is expected to continue to decline, but more slowly than the past. but more slowly than the past.

PMPM1010 is a problem during spring break up. Magnesium chloride is is a problem during spring break up. Magnesium chloride is

used to control dust on major roads. Unpaved road problem in used to control dust on major roads. Unpaved road problem in Eagle River has been resolved.Eagle River has been resolved.

PMPM2.52.5 is fairly low but could pose a problem if wood burning is fairly low but could pose a problem if wood burning

increases.increases.

Ozone levels are among lowest in the U.S. Ozone levels are among lowest in the U.S.

Benzene concentrations were among highest in U.S. in 2008-09. Benzene concentrations were among highest in U.S. in 2008-09. The impact of lowering the gasoline benzene content from 5% to The impact of lowering the gasoline benzene content from 5% to 1.3% or lower will be evaluated this coming year.1.3% or lower will be evaluated this coming year.