Fine Particle Pollution Causes Poor Air Quality in North Central Iowa

Pollutant levels likely to exceed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) health standards for fine particles were present over most of North Central Iowa Saturday morning, and are predicted to remain elevated through mid day Sunday.

The Department of Natural Resources recommends that Iowans with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children limit prolonged outdoor exertion until air quality conditions improve.

The EPA’s 24-hour health standard for fine particles is 35 micrograms per cubic meter.

At mid day today, 12-hour average fine particulate levels were 50 micrograms per cubic meter in Davenport, 51 micrograms per cubic meter in Clinton, 52 micrograms per cubic meter in Cedar Rapids, 46 micrograms per cubic meter in Emmetsburg, and 39 micrograms per cubic meter in Des Moines.

Fine particles are emitted by vehicle traffic and other combustion sources and are also formed by chemical reactions in the atmosphere. Stagnant air masses do not allow the fine particles to disperse, and pollutant levels rise. In the winter, fog droplets at near freezing temperatures capture ammonia and nitric acid and give rise to fine particles made of ammonium nitrate.

EPA’s national air quality map is available online at www.airnow.gov.

For more information contact Sean Fitzsimmons at (515) 281-8923.