Air Quality Awareness Week is April 27 - May 1

Governor Chet Culver joins the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in designating April 27 through May 1 as Air Quality Awareness Week. The Governor’s proclamation is posted at:

www.iowadnr.gov/air/citizen/neighborhood/files/govproclaim.pdf

Warmer months bring a higher incidence of days when smog levels pose a risk to Iowans and the environment. Iowans are asked to consciously reduce the amount of air pollution they produce, especially through combustion of fuels: cut back on automobile use, reduce unnecessary electricity use, and adopt alternatives to burning trash and yard waste. Combustion of fuels results in the formation of fine particle pollution, ozone and greenhouse gases.

“Iowa has a statewide high background level of fine particle pollution in the ambient air,” says Air Quality Bureau Chief Catharine Fitzsimmons of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). “If all Iowans share the responsibility for reducing air pollution, Iowa will maintain its ability to attract economic investment in industry and jobs. If we don’t, the eastern part of the state—where pollution gathers as a result of prevailing winds and the state is vested in industry infrastructure—will continue to be challenged to stay within the EPA’s health standard for fine particle pollution.”

The consequences of exceeding the EPA’s health standard limits are at least two-fold. Exceeding the health limit means the most vulnerable citizens are exposed to levels of pollution that will impact their quality of life: exacerbation of asthma symptoms and difficulty breathing by those with heart and lung diseases. Children, the elderly, athletes and those with outdoor occupations are also vulnerable.

Being declared in “non attainment” has economic disadvantages. Attracting new industry or industry expansion becomes difficult because the cost of more stringent pollution controls is expensive. Iowa would lose its competitive edge to areas with lower pollution levels.

Additionally, poor air quality affects plant life, reduces crop production and has other adverse environmental effects as well.

The Iowa DNR supports several projects to reduce air pollution. It contributes to the Bus Emissions Education Project to retrofit diesel school buses with pollution controls and replace the oldest and dirtiest school buses with matching funds for new bus purchases. The DNR’s Air Quality Bureau also manages the Reduce Iowa’s Diesel Exhaust program, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

For more ideas about how Iowans can reduce air pollution go to the DNR’s Web page “Do One New Thing to Reduce Air Pollution” at:

www.iowadnr.gov/air/citizen/neighborhood/pledge.html