AQI

This is my first blog for my toxicology class. I am very excited because I am interested in this subject. I enjoy coming to class and learning about new things every day. This first blog is about the state of Ohio’s implementation plans. I am going to be answering a few questions in my blog. These questions are…

1)      What is state implementation plan?

2)      Nam the 6 criteria pollutants and their standards.

3)      List and discuss the current Air quality index in my area.

4)      Describe the air quality index chart.

1)      What is the state implementation plan?

A State Implementation Plan (SIP) is a state plan for complying with the federal Clean Air Act, administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The State implementation plan consists of discussions and agreements that a specific state will use to clean up polluted areas. The state implementation plan also discusses rules, and technical documentation. To say that in a simpler version it is a set of basically rules, discussions, and narratives that are supposed to help us keep our air clean. There are different implementation plans for different things that effect air quality because not all pollutants are the same and they affect our air differently.

2)      Name the 6 criteria pollutants and their standards.

First pollutant is “Ozone”. a maximum allowed measurement for ozone (O₃) to be present in outdoor air. Limiting ozone pollution in the air protects human health and the environment.

The next pollution is “ Particulate Matter” ….  A maximum amount of Particulate Matter to be present in outdoor air. There are different standards for particulate matter based on particle type. Limiting Particulate Matter pollution in the air protects human health and the environment.

 The next Pollution is “Carbon Monoxide” ….  The Clean Air Act requires EPA to set national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for carbon monoxide.

The fourth criteria pollution is “Lead”….. EPA publishes a detailed plan. The review plan describes all the scientific assessments and other documents that help EPA decide whether or not the current air quality standards for lead are still protecting human health and the environment from harmful exposure. Based on this, EPA either changes the standards or keeps them the same.

The fifth criteria pollution is “Sulfur Dioxide” …. maximum amounts of sulfur dioxide to be present in outdoor air. Limiting SO₂ in the air protects human health and the environment.

The sixth criteria pollution is “Nitrogen Dioxide” …. EPA has decided to examine nitrogen oxide (NO) and sulfur oxide (SO) compounds together.  EPA recognizes that Nitrogen and sulfur dioxide are linked from both an atmospheric chemistry and environmental effects perspectives.

3)      Describe the Air Quality Index chart

The Air Quality Index is an index for reporting daily air quality. It tells you how clean or polluted your air is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for you. The AQI focuses on health effects you may experience within a few hours or days after breathing polluted air. 

I am from Centerville Ohio so the Air quality index is 42.

To learn more about Air quality follow this link…http://www.epa.state.oh.us/

This is a picture of the air quality index each color represents a different level of severity for the air we breathe, 

This is the picture of the Air Quality Index the green and yellow represent the colors that correspond to severity of our air.