 WHAT IS THE AIR QUALITY INDEX –
and why is it so important?
By Jack Etzel
One of the busiest places within the Allegheny County Health
Department, and among the very most important to the health of every
county resident, is a 24/7 operation headquartered in Lawrenceville to
which you may not have given much thought. But if you enjoy breathing,
you might want to keep reading about the county’s Air Quality Program.
The manager of the Air Quality Program is Jim Thompson. In this role,
he directs pollution monitoring, regulation development and
enforcement, air quality permitting and outreach activities. Thompson
holds a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from West Virginia
University and a master’s degree in Engineering Management from the
University of Pittsburgh. Prior to joining the Allegheny County Health
Department, Thompson spent 23 years in the chemical and steel
industries, where he led several research and development, process
engineering, and commercial organizations. NORTH HILLS MONTHLY
MAGAZINE: Are we showing our age by thinking that this used to be
called a Pollution Index, or Standards something-or-the-other? JIM
THOMPSON: Yes, it was once called the Pollution Standard Index, but it
is now known as the new Air Quality Index, or AQI, and there’s quite a
difference. The AQI today provides much more information about
associated health effects. One difference is that the AQI accounts for
new, more protective health standards for ground-level ozone or smog,
and ultra-microscopic particles known as PM2.5. In plain English, that
means you can expect to hear or read of higher Air Quality Index
values for these pollutants than in the past. NHMM: So where and
what are you monitoring and measuring in Allegheny County? THOMPSON:
We are operating a network of pollution monitors in approximately 20
different locations. That would include about 60 different monitors
employed throughout the county. We’re measuring what would be called
‘criteria’ pollutants at nearly all of these stations. The criteria
pollutants would include sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen
oxide and lead, as well as fine particulates—all very serious
pollutants. NHMM: That sounds like a lot of work. THOMPSON:
There’s more. We’re also measuring what are called ‘air toxics’ at
select locations in the county. Air toxics are chemicals such as
benzene, toluene, xylenes and others. Many people may never have heard
of them, but each air toxic chemical is a known carcinogen. NHMM:
With all of this effort, technology and better knowledge, where do we
actually stand today compared, to, say, 10 years ago? THOMPSON:
Compared to 10 years ago, we’ve made phenomenal strides in eliminating
and controlling air pollution. Even though what I’m about to say is
not a scientific answer, almost anyone can tell that things are a lot
different by just looking outside. You no longer see clouds of black
smoke pouring from smoke stacks. That’s not to say that we don’t have
a few problem areas in the county. One of them is Liberty Borough,
that is just downwind from the U.S. Steel Coke Works. We also still
have a problem with ozone near our Harrison monitor in the northeast
part of the county. NHMM: Still, the general public probably doesn’t
begin to understand the complexity of your department and what goes on
here around the clock… THOMPSON: We just might be unique in the
country in that we’re a local agency that has a direct delegation from
the Environmental Protection Agency to enforce the Clean Air Act.
Actually, our own agency predates the Environmental Protection Agency,
as well as the State Department of Environmental Protection. In
addition to our network of pollution monitors, we also regulate
companies in Allegheny County for air pollution. We issue permits and
write enforcement actions against violators. We also write and revise
pollution regulations to make certain that we are meeting EPA air
quality standards. We have a special group that enforces asbestos
regulations and we also regulate abrasive blasting. There are plenty
of bridges and old stone buildings that can use abrasive blasting, but
it must be carefully used and monitored. NHMM: In college, I drove a
smelly, sooty school bus before and after classes. Is your agency
involved today with the retrofitting of local school bus diesel
engines? THOMPSON: Yes, and too many of them are still producing
diesel particulates, which are a hazardous air pollutant. We’ve
approved a half a million dollars for retrofits for any school in
Allegheny County that wants to upgrade their school buses. And we
certainly urge them to do that. At the same time, we’re trying to work
with the Port Authority to upgrade its own diesel bus engines. PAT has
more than 800 buses of various ages, and the ones older than the 2007
models can pose a problem. NHMM: What can’t you control? THOMPSON:
Unfortunately, Pittsburgh is downwind of many, many coal-fired power
plants in the Ohio Valley. In fact, 70 percent of all pollution that’s
in Allegheny County comes from upwind sources. The Environmental
Protection Agency has recently addressed this with the Clean Air
Interstate Rule. The so-called Cap and Trade system should eventually
benefit us greatly.* NHMM: Any final thoughts? THOMPSON: Yes!
Whenever your readers think they have observed an obvious air
pollution violation, they could do themselves, us and the county a
favor by calling our 24-hour hotline at (412) 687-2243. We have a
large county with a limited number of inspectors. The public has been,
and can continue to be, a big help. Allegheny Health Department
suggests that for daily information, go on the Internet and Google
search for Pennsylvania Air Quality Partnership. Click on Southwestern
Pa. Look for Forecast Info. From there you can click to subscribe to a
free daily forecast of pollution and ozone conditions sent to your
email. *For more information on the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR)
and Cap and Trade basics, visit www.epa.gov/cair/basic.html |
