This week marks the ninth anniversary of Air Quality Awareness Week, which celebrates the importance of clean air and learning about air quality.
As part of this week, state residents are encouraged to commit to protecting their air quality and learning how it affects their health.
‘DEP’s environmental professionals are committed to studying and monitoring air quality in Pennsylvania,’ Pa. DEP Secretary E. Christopher Abruzzo said. ‘The data DEP receives assists the department in formulating sound policies and guidance as well as forecasting air quality so people can make informed decisions about their outdoor activities.’
According to a press release from the Department of Environmental Protection, ‘.. cumulative air contaminant emissions across the state have continued to decline since 2008. In particular, sulfur dioxide emissions from electric generating units have been reduced by approximately 73 percent. The emissions of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter have also been reduced by approximately 23 percent and 46 percent, respectively, from this sector.’
According to the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection, those reductions in air contaminants translate into between $14 billion and $37 billion in benefits to public health annually.
Air Quality Awareness Week begins the ozone forecasting season in Pennsylvania for 2014. DEP makes air quality forecasts for fine particulate matter year-round and for ozone in the spring and summer months. The forecasts, developed with local air quality partnerships, use a color-based air quality index. Green signifies good; yellow means moderate; orange represents pollution levels that could trigger health effects for sensitive people, such as the very young, the elderly and those with respiratory ailments; and red warns of pollution levels that could trigger health effects for all members of the population.
These forecasts are provided in conjunction with the Air Quality Partnership of the Delaware Valley, the Southwest Pennsylvania Air Quality Partnership, the Lehigh Valley/Berks Air Quality Partnership and the Susquehanna Valley Air Quality Partnership. In addition, DEP forecasts for ozone in eight areas: Altoona, Erie, Johnstown, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, State College and Williamsport cities and Mercer and Indiana counties.
To sign up to receive air quality forecasts via email, visit www.enviroflash.info.
The DEP is also asking members of the public to help reduce their contribution to air pollution by driving less, taking public transportation more, planning ahead for outdoor activities and checking ozone levels in their area before making outside plans to better protect the health of young children, the elderly or those with respiratory ailments in their families.
