Official State of Iowa Website Here is how you know

Fine Particles in Iowa

Areas of eastern Iowa have come close to exceeding the Environmental Protection Agency’s attainment standard for PM2.5 since the standard was strengthened in December 2006. A small area in Muscatine County has exceeded the standard. The DNR will work with businesses determined to be contributing to the exceedances and develop a plan to bring the area into compliance.

The DNR helps industries and other permitted pollution emitters with strategies to reduce their emissions. However, there are many other sources of PM2.5 that contribute to the background ambient air levels of PM2.5: automobile emissions, open burning, wild fires, and dust.

EPA provides additional PM2.5 information on their website.