Happy New Year 2018 Maricopa County > 3 Days HIGH POLLUTION ADVISORY

PM2.5 Air Pollutant

(Image insert by Blogger for effect) The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is issuing a High Pollution Advisory (HPA) from Dec. 30, 2017, to Jan. 1, 2018, for fine particulate matter (PM2.5), also known as soot, for Maricopa County, Arizona. This HPA is due to particle pollutant levels expected to accumulate enough to exceed the federal health standard for PM2.5.  People with heart or lung diseases, older adults and children are most likely to be affected by particle pollution. Particles in the PM2.5 size range are able to travel deeply into the respiratory tract, reaching the lungs and can cause short-term health effects such as eye, nose, throat and lung irritation, coughing, sneezing, runny nose and shortness of breath. Exposure to these fine particles can also affect lung function and worsen medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease. BACKGROUND High Pollution Advisory (HPA): Notifies the public that the level of an air pollutant is expected to exceed the federal health standard Health Watch: Notifies the public that the level of an air pollutant is expected to approach the federal health standard Particulate Matter: State and county agencies measure levels of particulate matter (PM) in the air. PM is extremely small solid particles and liquid droplets that circulate in air. PM comes from combustion (cars, industry, wood burning) or dust stirred up into the air. High levels of PM occur when air is especially stagnant or windy. Two types of PM are measured: PM10, commonly called dust, and PM2.5, commonly called soot. PM10 refers to dust particles 10 microns or less and PM2.5 to soot particles 2.5 microns or less. For perspective, one strand of human hair is 70-100 microns in size. CONTACT: Erin Jordan – 602-771-2215 desk/602-540-8072 cell  The Maricopa County Air Quality Department (MCAQD) is a regulatory agency whose goal is to ensure federal clean air standards are achieved and maintained for the residents and visitors of Maricopa County. The department is governed by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and follows air quality standards set forth by the federal Clean Air Act. The department offers air quality information and resources on its Clean Air Make More website: cleanairmakemore.com. CONTACT: Bob Huhn – 602-506-6713 desk/602-526-7307 cell ___________________________________________________________________ About ADEQ Under the Environmental Quality Act of 1986, the Arizona State Legislature established the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality in 1987 as the state agency for protecting and enhancing public health and the environment of Arizona. For more information, visit http://www.azdeq.gov/.