25 December 2018

Maricopa County: Living Here is Hazardous To Your Health

Ya know, dear readers, your MesaZona is really throwing one more RANT today about our Air Quality ....Ooops!!
Here's another one, but this time here are some links so that YOU, dear readers, CAN FOLLOW THROUGH to get your own daily updates . . . ask for more accountability.
Maricopa County consistently VIOLATES federal Clean Air Standards
Whose job is it anyway to ensure that Federal Clean Air Standards do not not get consistently violated here? It doesn't look like they are "Doing Their Job"!
Here's another Advisory for tomorrow: WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO ABOUT IT????????
It's just NOT a Particulate Matter > Do you take it personally?
It's time to hold ADEQ accountable.
So: follow-up and start noticing the opening image for Sunday. Then there's this for Monday

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is issuing a High Pollution Advisory (HPA) for fine particulate matter (PM-2.5) effective December 24 & 25, 2018 in Maricopa County. PM-2.5 is made up of small particles (soot) found in smoke.
ADEQ recommends that people limit outdoor activity while the HPA is in effect, especially children and adults with respiratory problems.
These alerts are for fine particulate matter (PM-2.5). PM-2.5 is made up of small particles (soot) found in smoke. ADEQ recommends that people limit outdoor activity while the HPA is in effect, especially children and adults with respiratory problems.
ADEQ Air Quality Hourly Forecast | View >
During an HPA, Maricopa County Air Quality Department (MCAQD) has declared a “No Burn Day”. Wood burning in residential fireplaces, chimineas, outdoor fire pits and similar outdoor fires is not permitted.    
Health Impacts
People most vulnerable to the impacts of air pollution include children, older adults, adults exercising outdoors and people with heart or lung disease and those suffering from asthma and bronchitis. Exposure can increase the number and severity of asthma attacks, cause or aggravate bronchitis or other lung disease and reduce the body’s ability to fight infection. Symptoms may include itchy eyes, nose, and throat, wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain and upper respiratory issues. Long-term exposure is linked to premature death in people with heart or lung disease, nonfatal heart attacks, irregular heartbeat and decreased lung function.
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:
PM-10, commonly called dust
PM-2.5, commonly called soot or smoke.
PM-10 is 10 microns or less in size
PM-2.5 is 2.5 microns or less in size.
(For perspective, one strand of human hair is 70-100 microns in size.)
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Forecast Discussion:       
We managed to narrowly avoid exceeding the health standard for PM2.5 yesterday, ending the day with a 90 AQI.
Unfortunately, we only expect PM2.5 concentrations to get higher today. Continued stable weather, along with an increase in fireplace activity due to it being Christmas Eve, means it is likely PM2.5 will reach into the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category. As a result, there is a PM2.5 High Pollution Advisory in effect for today.



 

 
 

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