Air Quality Unhealthy Yesterday (11-20-03) Near Black Hawk Foundry in Southwest Davenport

DES MOINES-Air quality in the immediate area of Black Hawk Foundry in southwest Davenport was unhealthy for sensitive groups yesterday with an Air Quality Index measuring 117 due to microscopic sized particulate matter.

The particulate pollution levels were not widespread over the city, but confined to areas adjacent the foundry. A second particulate monitor located at Jefferson Elementary School at 10th and Vine measured good air quality with an AQI of just 31. Yesterday's Air Quality Index readings elsewhere across Iowa measured 17 to 50. The Air Quality Index (AQI), reports pollution levels using a color-coded and numerical range for pollutants. The higher the AQI, the poorer the air quality.

An AQI of 1 to 50 is green or good, 51 to 100 is yellow or moderate, 101 to 150 is orange or unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151 to 200 is red, unhealthy for everyone. Rarely monitored are purple for very unhealthy (201 to 300) and maroon for hazardous (301 to 500.)

DNR officials are currently investigating the cause, which could be winds that pushed smokestack emissions close to the ground or other events at the foundry that elevated the readings.

"Hopefully this is an isolated event and a cause can be determined to help avoid a repeat," said Brian Button, a DNR spokesman. He said the foundry has done considerable recent work to reduce emissions including enclosing operations that move dry materials, sealing areas near the foundry cupola, and future installation of a large series of fabric filter bags to capture additional particulate matter.

He said these actions stem from a similar pollution episode that occurred near the foundry in March 2000, when air quality measuring 113 on the Air Quality Index.

The foundry also cooperated in establishing the air monitoring station that recorded the unhealthy air Thursday.

Particulate matter is a generic term to describe microscopic sized solids, liquid droplets, or aerosols in the air. Because the particles are so small they are able to penetrate the deepest parts of the lungs, increasing the likelihood of respiratory symptoms in sensitive individuals, including children, the elderly and those with heart disease.