For Release 03-25-02

Air Pollution Detected Sunday in Buffalo
For more information contact Sean Fitzsimmons 515-281-8923

DES MOINES — Buffalo air quality on Sunday was unhealthy for sensitive groups due to fine dust.

“This is the first time dust levels in Buffalo exceeded EPA standards this year,” said Sean Fitzsimmons, DNR environmental specialist. “Our monitor is located near two limestone quarries, and dry conditions and higher than normal winds created some very dusty conditions on Sunday,” he said. “The same monitor recorded no exceedances of the EPA dust standards in 2001, one in 2000, and two in 1999”, according to Fitzsimmons.

Levels were still over health standards Monday morning. Fitzsimmons said quarry operators were spraying water on haul roads in and around the quarries in an attempt to reduce the levels.

Persons in the area near the quarries with respiratory disease such as asthma are most at risk from aggravated symptoms.

On Sunday, state air monitoring stations recorded 24-hour pollution levels at 169 micrograms per cubic meter of air, above federal health standards set at 150.