From NC Department of Environmental Quality:
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) invites residents to hear updates on fine particulate matter air pollution in North Carolina. The webinar is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 19. A recording will be posted to the Division’s website. Live Spanish interpretation will be available during the webinar.
Webinar: North Carolina Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Update
When: 6:00-7:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024
Registration: Sign up onlineFine particulate matter, or PM2.5, is any extremely small particle emitted by manmade (cars, industry, fires) and natural (wildfires, plants, animals) sources. Breathing air with high levels of PM2.5 for extended periods is linked to health effects including shortness of breath and heart conditions.
After reviewing the latest scientific evidence, the Environmental Protection Agency in May tightened the annual standard for PM2.5 from 12.0 micrograms per cubic meter of air to 9.0 micrograms per cubic meter. EPA says that the revised standard will save lives, reduce cases of asthma, prevent lost workdays and save billions in public health spending, especially in communities of color and other vulnerable populations.
During the informational webinar, DAQ staff will discuss North Carolina’s efforts to meet the revised federal standard, including reviewing the impact that smoke from the 2023 Canadian wildfires had on the state’s air quality. The presentation will also discuss the key sources of PM2.5 emissions in the state.
North Carolinians are breathing the cleanest air in decades. North Carolina has seen a 49% decline in PM2.5 emissions between 1990 and 2020, and maintained statewide compliance with the previous PM2.5 standard.
Based on air quality monitoring data from 2021-2023, 19 out of 21 monitoring sites in North Carolina are meeting the revised standard. Monitoring sites in Mecklenburg and Davidson counties are slightly above the revised standard due to influences of Canadian wildfire smoke in 2023. EPA has yet to make the final determination as to which areas of North Carolina will meet the revised PM2.5 standard. EPA plans to base its determination on air quality data from 2022-2024.
DAQ plans to recommend that EPA designate all of North Carolina as in attainment with the revised PM2.5 standard, because the Canadian wildfires were exceptional events outside of the state’s control. This would allow DAQ to focus on pollution reduction strategies that are within its control to ensure ongoing attainment with the revised standard.
During events like wildfires, DAQ issues alerts for Air Quality Action Days if the Air Quality Index reaches Code Orange or above. Air quality forecasts are available every day for every county in North Carolina at deq.nc.gov/AQPortal.
The webinar will also review the Air Quality Index, how to check air quality forecasts, and ways residents can protect themselves from the harmful effects of smoke.
More information about the revised PM2.5 air quality standard is on the Division’s website at deq.nc.gov/PM2.5Updates.
If you need this information in Spanish or another language, call 919-707-8446 or email Shawn.Taylor@deq.nc.gov.
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