Take a deep breath. How much do you know about the air you are breathing? This week has been designated Air Quality Awareness Week by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to highlight the importance of air quality to our health.  Check out the EPA website at http://www.epa.gov/airnow/airaware for in-depth information

Interesting air-related facts and tips:

• Pima County has good air quality about 300 days a year.
• Pima County Department of Environmental Quality monitors air quality from 18 different monitoring stations located throughout eastern Pima County.
• The amount of life-sustaining air surrounding our planet is limited. If the Earth were an apple, the depth of the atmosphere would be similar to the apple’s skin
• Air is made of about 78 percent nitrogen.
• On average, we breathe about 3,000 gallons of air a day.
• We take about 20,000 breaths a day.
• Air pollution affects the health of those with cardiovascular disease, not just people with lung disease, children, and the elderly.
• Most of the air pollution in Pima County is caused by motor vehicle use.
• Every 41 miles you drive puts one pound of air pollution into the air.
• We drive about 22,000,000 miles every day in eastern Pima County.
• Emissions are highest when a vehicle is started “cold” and after it sits for more than an hour. If you combine errands into one trip, you can reduce cold starts and help keep the air healthy.
• Properly inflated tires last longer, reduce drag, and save gasoline. Check your tires once a month and add air when needed.

Find up to the hour local air pollution data at the Pima County Department of Environmental Quality’s

www.AirInfoNow.org website.  Sign up to receive air quality advisories via email at www.deq.pima.gov.

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Recent changes in one of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards will most likely reduce the number of days that the air in Pima County is categorized as “good” on the Air Quality Index. The changes are based on EPA’s review of thousands of studies and make the air quality standard for fine particulate matter (2.5 microns or less in size) more protective of public health.

Exposure to fine particulate pollution, also known as PM_2.5, can cause premature death and harmful cardiovascular effects such as heart attacks and strokes. In addition, particulate pollution causes haze and obscures mountain views. PM_2.5 can be emitted directly from a variety of sources, including gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles, smokestacks, fires, power plants, and industrial processes.

“Last year under the old standard, there were 361 days classified as ‘good’ days for PM_2.5. With the new standard, some of those good air days will become ‘moderate,’ said Beth Gorman, Pima County Department of Environmental Quality’s (PDEQ) Clean Air Program Manager. “It is not that there is more pollution in our air now; rather it is that the new, stricter standards will provide a warning at the lower, more protective level where air pollution amounts could be harmful to our health,” Gorman continued.  PDEQ estimates that there may be about a nine percent decrease in the number of “good” air quality days with the new standard. (See graphs in slideshow above.)

The Air Quality Index (AQI) converts air pollution concentrations to a number on a scale from 0 to 500, where “Good” is 0-50, “Moderate” is 51-100, and “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” is 101-150. “Even with this change to make the standard more stringent, the majority of our days will still be classified as ‘good’ for all the air pollutants we monitor. This is especially beneficial in a community such as ours where there are many people at risk when air pollution levels are elevated,” Gorman said.

PDEQ monitors fine particulate matter at six different monitoring locations throughout eastern Pima County.  Up-to-the-hour air quality information can be obtained at www.AirInfoNow.org. Additional information regarding the EPA’s decision to revise the Air Quality Standard for PM_2.5 and the recently issued formula forthe Air Quality Index can be found at http://www.epa.gov/pm/actions.html#dec12

The air quality advisory issued yesterday by Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ) is continued for today as the wind-blown particulate matter from yesterday’s storm remains airborne.  Winds are also forecast for today but are not expected to reach the speeds and consistency of yesterday’s winds.

Particulate matter levels are in the “Unhealthy” range this morning. Particulate matter is made up of tiny specks of soot, dust, and aerosols that are suspended in the air we breathe.

Individuals with heart disease and respiratory sensitivities should reduce exposure to outside air today. If you need to go outside when particulate levels are elevated, it is suggested you reduce your level of exertion to decrease the amount of particulates you breathe into your lungs.

This advisory will be in effect as long as current conditions last.

PDEQ monitors air pollution in our region at 18 air quality monitoring stations. Up-to-the-hour air pollution levels are available online at the PDEQ website www.airinfonow.org or by calling the PDEQ hotline at (520) 882-4AIR.

The Pima County Department of Environmental Quality is issuing an air quality advisory due to the potential for elevated levels of wind-blown particulate matter today.  Gusty winds are forecast prior to the storm moving in to our area and may cause higher than normal levels of airborne particulate matter. Particulate matter is made up of tiny specks of soot, dust, and aerosols that are suspended in the air we breathe.

Individuals with heart disease and respiratory sensitivities may wish to reduce exposure to outside air. If you need to go outside when particulate levels are elevated, it is suggested you reduce your level of exertion to decrease the amount of particulates you breathe into your lungs.

This advisory will be in effect as long as current conditions last.

PDEQ monitors air pollution in our region at 18 air quality monitoring sites. Up-to-the-hour air pollution levels are available online at the PDEQ website www.airinfonow.org or by calling the PDEQ hotline at (520) 882-4AIR.

If cleaning up around the house for holiday guests involves removing fallen leaves on the porch or pathways in the yard, consider picking up a broom instead of a gas-powered leaf blower.  Let’s skip the Top 10 List of reasons to avoid a leaf blower — because we are all busy during the holidays — and shorten it to four.

Why ditch the leaf blower?

1.     Leaf blowers pollute the air.

Lawn equipment, like leaf blowers, emit pollutants such as hazardous air pollutants, carbon monoxide, particle pollution (dust), carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and volatile organic compounds. These pollutants can contribute to health problems that may affect homeowners, their families, and the community.

2.     They are really noisy.

A normal, acceptable decibel level in residential areas is about 60 decibels. Leaf blowers generate about 70-75 decibels. According to the U.S. EPA, this level of noise degrades quality of life by interfering with talking and sleeping; can reduce work accuracy; and can increase stress and aggravation. These negative effects can last for hours afterwards.

3.     They kick up allergens and can trigger asthma episodes and lung problems.

Leaf blowers don’t just move leaves. They stir up allergens, mold, animal feces, and dust particles that were previously stabilized. According to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, about five pounds of particulate matter per leaf blower per hour are blown into the air and can drift for days before settling out. Depending on the density of your neighborhood, your use of a leaf blower can affect you and 8 to 14 of your neighbors. These small particles can bypass your body’s natural filter systems in your nose and throat and float down deep into your lungs, causing respiratory difficulties – especially for sensitive individuals.

4.     They use gasoline when greener alternatives are available.

Rakes and brooms offer fossil fuel-free alternatives that will keep the air in your neighborhood healthier to breathe. The great thing about a broom is once you buy one, it won’t cost you a  penny to operate. And you even get a little exercise as you use it!  An electric leaf blower is better than a gas-powered one because it does not emit engine pollution and is usually quieter; however, the generation of electricity causes air pollution at the power plant.

For more information on actions you can take to be healthier and improve the environment, visit the Pima County Department of Environmental Quality’s website at www.deq.pima.gov or call (520) 243-7446.  Happy Holidays!

Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ) will hold a formal Public Hearing on the request for an air quality permit renewal for ASARCO Mission Complex copper mine (ASARCO) operating at 4201 W. Pima Mine Road in Sahuarita, Arizona.

The formal Public Hearing will be Tuesday, November 27, 2012, at the Rancho Resort Clubhouse at 15900 South Rancho Resort Boulevard in Sahuarita, Arizona, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. There will be an opportunity at this hearing for the public to speak about the proposed renewal of the ASARCO air quality permit or to drop off written comments about the permit.

ASARCO is currently operating under an air quality permit issued in 2003 and revised in 2011. This existing five-year permit remains in effect until the Control Officer (Director) of PDEQ makes a decision regarding the air quality permit renewal. The proposed air quality permit requires ASARCO to continue to control particulate emissions from the tailings by incorporating a tailings management plan. In addition, the permit requires ASARCO to continue to control particulate emissions from crushers, conveyor belts and processing equipment through the use of various pollution control equipment. Additionally, all equipment at ASARCO is subject to local and/or federal standards that limit or control overall emissions from the facility.  There are no changes to ASARCO’s operations proposed in this permit renewal.

The official public comment period for the proposed permit began on October 1, 2012, and will end on November 30, 2012. Copies of the permit application and relevant background material may be reviewed at www.deq.pima.gov or during normal business hours at the PDEQ offices, 33 N. Stone Ave., Suite 700, in Tucson. For additional information, please call (520) 243-7400.

Temperatures are forecast to drop this weekend which is often a time when people stoke up their fireplaces. Wood-burning fireplaces can be a pleasant source of warmth and comfort when the air gets crisp, but for some people, fireplace smoke can literally take your breath away.

Wood smoke contains hundreds of chemical compounds and some of them can harm people with heart or respiratory disease, babies, young children and pregnant women. Pollutants in wood smoke can cause the eyes, nose and throat to burn with irritation, and cause headache and nausea in some people.

“I frequently receive calls in the winter from people who cannot take their dog out for a walk, due to the fireplace smoke near their home,” said Beth Gorman, Senior Program Manager for Pima County Department of Environmental Quality. “People who are really sensitive to smoke can experience health effects if smoke levels are high,” Gorman continued.

Walking in neighborhoods where fireplace smoke is heavy can cause irregular heartbeat, chest pain and shortness of breath in susceptible people. Smoke can make asthma symptoms worse and cause higher rates of lung inflammation and pneumonia in young children in homes where wood-burning fireplaces are used.

Fireplaces aren’t efficient home heaters. Most homes aren’t perfectly insulated, so cold air seeps in under doors and through cracks, while hot air escapes up the chimney.

If flues are not properly installed and maintained, particles released during wood burning can escape into the home. The Environmental Protection Agency says several of the pollutants emitted by wood burning have demonstrated cancer-causing properties similar to cigarette smoke.

To reduce your risk of harm from using a wood-burning fireplace, follow these tips:

• Have chimney cleaned seasonally to reduce creosote buildup.
• Burn hardwoods like oak, mesquite and pecan instead of soft woods like cedar, fir or pine. The wood should be split, and dried for at least six months.
• Use smaller pieces of wood. They burn more efficiently and are a better source of heat.
• Allow enough room inside the fireplace for air to circulate freely around the wood.
• Never burn plastics, painted wood, charcoal, printed pages in a fireplace. They will release toxic materials into the air.
• Check your chimney from the outside. If you see smoke, your fire is not burning hot enough. Give the fire more air, and then check again.
• Check before you light a fire to see if local air pollution levels are elevated. If they are, avoid using the fireplace on those days, if possible. Get pollution information at www.airinfonow.org or call (520) 882-4347.
• Remember:  if you can smell smoke, you are breathing smoke!

The Pima County Department of Environmental Quality is downgrading the particulate pollution advisory issued for today to an air quality watch for areas that did not receive rain.

Elevated wind speeds are still being forecast for this afternoon, however areas that received moisture are likely to produce less wind-generated dust.

PDEQ monitors air pollution in our region at 18 air quality monitoring sites. Up-to-the-hour air pollution levels are available online at the PDEQ website www.airinfonow.org or by calling the PDEQ hotline at (520) 882-4AIR.

The Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ) is issuing an air quality advisory due to the potential for elevated levels of wind-blown particulate matter on Thursday, November 8, and Friday, November 9.

Elevated wind speeds are forecast beginning Thursday afternoon and may cause higher than normal levels of airborne particulate matter. Particulate matter is made up of tiny specks of soot, dust, and aerosols that are suspended in the air we breathe. If it rains prior to the increase in wind speed, that may reduce the amount of wind-generated airborne particulates.

Individuals with heart disease and respiratory sensitivities may wish to reduce exposure to outside air, especially on Friday when wind speeds are forecast to be high. If you need to go outside when particulate levels are elevated, it is suggested you reduce your level of exertion to decrease the amount of particulates you breathe into your lungs.

This advisory will be in effect as long as current weather conditions continue.

PDEQ monitors air pollution in our region at 18 air quality monitoring sites. Up-to-the-hour air pollution levels are available online at the PDEQ website www.airinfonow.org or by calling the PDEQ hotline at (520) 882-4AIR.

Pima County brings Greenville to Tucson Meet Yourself, Friday, Oct. 12, to Sunday, Oct. 14. Greenville, the sustainability corner, will have games for kids and more in front of the Joel D. Valdez Main Library, 101 N. Stone Ave.

“Greenville will give folks a chance to have some fun while expanding their inner green,” says Beth Gorman, Pima County, Senior Program Manager for Pima County Department of Environmental Quality. “Take a turn at our ‘Wheel of Wisdom’ to learn interesting green facts, try to beat the clock with our ‘Ways for Waste’ recycling game, or even show your artistic side by coloring environmentally-themed art.”

Sustainability means more than recycling cans and bottles, the Greenville runway will host the first-ever “green” fashion shows at Tucson Meet Yourself, with vintage clothing from local stores. Shows are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday afternoons. And there will be demonstrations about composting and saving “green” through energy conservation. In addition, a storyteller will encourage kids to save water with Drusilla the Drought Dragon.

Three other efforts to enhance the quality of life in Pima County will be featured at the Pima County Pavilion.  The big tent provides great shade where festival participants can meet animals to adopt from Pima Animal Care Center, check out sports and entertainment options available at Kino Sports Complex, or discover The Loop with Pima County Bike Ambassadors.

Be sure to check the festival schedule for fun interactive displays at our stage: contests for kids, dog training 101, bike fixes, demos from sports personalities, and more.

Thanks to the generosity of Bicycle Inter-Community Art and Salvage (BICAS), bicycle valet service will be available next to the pavilion for a secure place to park bikes.

For more information on this year’s festival, check out: www.tucsonmeetyourself.org.

Follow Pima County on facebook: www.facebook.com/pimacountyarizona.