Advancing Healthy Air

 

Types of Air Pollution

The Clean Air Act requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards, or NAAQS, for six common air pollutants — also known as “criteria pollutants.” These are: carbon monoxide, lead, ground-level ozone, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide. These common air pollutants are found all and come from various sources such as coal-fired power plants, factories, cars, and trains. All of the criteria pollutants can be harmful to your health and the environment. Below are brief descriptions of the three GASP is most concerned with: ground-level ozone, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide. 

In addition to criteria pollutants, the Clean Air Act also regulates a category of pollutants called “hazardous air pollutants,” or HAPs. These are also referred to as “air toxics.” HAPs are pollutants that are known (or suspected, based on ample scientific evidence) to cause cancer and other very serious health problems. There are 188 HAPs listed by the Environmental Protection Agency. (In fact, GASP was a part of the effort that secured the 188th pollutant in 2022!)

Below we have listed three of the major pollutants of concern in the Greater-Birmingham area: particulate matter, ground-level ozone, and sulfur dioxide. We’re constantly updating our website with new resources and additional information, so please bookmark this page!

Particle Pollution

Particle pollution, also known as particulate matter (or just “PM”) is made up of tiny solid particles and liquid droplets in the air. PM comes in many different shapes and sizes and can include everything from acids (such as nitrates and sulfates), organic chemicals, and metals, to microscopic bits of soil, pollen, and dust. These particles are breathed into your lungs and can even get into your bloodstream. There is no safe level of exposure to particle pollution.

Ozone Pollution

Ground-level ozone is created by chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the presence of sunlight. Ozone is the most common air pollutant in the United States. Breathing ozone pollution can trigger a variety of health problems including chest pain, coughing, throat irritation, and congestion. Children, seniors, and people living with chronic diseases (such as asthma, diabetes, COPD, and more) are at the most risk.

Sulfur Dioxide

Sulfur oxides (SOx) refers to a group of compounds that contain sulfur and oxygen. SOx can be harmful to humans and the environment, but sulfur dioxide, or SO2, is the pollutant of most concern. Emissions come primarily from power plants that burn fossil fuels to generate electricity, along with industrial processes and some “dirty” forms of transportation. Sulfur dioxide can cause respiratory problems; people with asthma are particularly sensitive to breathing SO2.

How to Install the Widget

1. Highlight and copy code from the following box:

<script id="gasp-load" src="http://www.gaspgroup.org/widget_airquality_inline.js.php" type="text/javascript"></script>

2. Find a location to put it in your website’s source code.
3. Hit Control + V to paste the code.
4. Save your page and upload it to your server.
5. Check your page and verify the widget works.

The Air Quality Index

The EPA reports air quality through a measurement it devised called the “air quality index,” or AQI. The AQI is a helpful tool for you to understand how polluted the air you are breathing is, as well as any health concerns to watch out for.