Air Quality Issues for the Ozarks
The Southwest Region of Missouri is experiencing significant population growth. While this growth continues, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established new key air quality standards for the nation. In 2006, the EPA revised the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for PM2.5 (fine particulate) from 65 micrograms per cubic meter to 35 micrograms per cubic meter. Currently, the Greater Springfield fine particulate levels are 27 micrograms per cubic meter. On March 12, 2008, EPA set a new standard for ground-level ozone at 75 parts per billion (0.075 parts per million). The previous standard was 84 parts per billion. Currently, the air quality level for the greater Springfield area is 77 parts per billion (2005-2007). The reason for these revisions of the NAAQS's is due to new health data that show people are experiencing significant adverse heath effects at lower concentrations of these pollutants.
Due to this recent change in the ozone standard, and our population growth, Springfield currently exceeds the ozone standard. This puts the area at significant risk of being designated “non-attainment”. The Ozarks Clean Air Alliance is currently working on the development of a Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) to identify and implement voluntary strategies to reduce ground-level ozone pollution. For more information about the CAAP, click here.
We can all take action to protect our air quality. Click here to review the voluntary actions that individuals and businesses can take to reduce air pollution.
According to the 2002 National Emissions Inventory (NEI), controllable emission sources that contribute to ground-level ozone pollution in our area are mainly on-road vehicles and point sources.
Ozone Contributing Pollutants
For more information on other common air pollutants please visit:
- EPA's six common air pollutants.
- Air Quality Index – A Guide to Air Quality and our Health
Examples of Different Air Pollution Sources:
Point Source:
- Power plants
- Factories
- Industrial and commercial boilers
- Chemical processing
- Large petroleum storage facilities
Area Sources and Nonroad Sources to Offroad Sources:
- Small businesses (I.E. dry cleaners, autobody shops, printers, painting operations, gas stations, etc.)
- Homes (wood combustion, furnaces, paint and solvent use, etc.)
- Office buildings (heating sources, etc.)
- Wildfires
- Waste disposal (I.E. landfills)
- Agricultural sources (open burning, pesticide application, tilling, feedlots, etc.)
- Wind erosion
- Unpaved roads
Biogenic Sources:
- Trees - oak, pines, sweetgum, eucalypti and poplars
Onroad Sources:
- Cars
- Motorcycles
- Trucks
- Heavy-duty trucks (I.E. Semi-tractor trailers, dump trucks, etc.)
Nonroad Sources:
- Construction equipment (I.E. excavators, bull dozers, skid steers, etc.)
- Lawn and garden equipment (I.E. lawn mowers, gas powered weedeaters, chainsaws, leaf blowers, chippers, etc.)
- Off-road motorcycles and ATV's
- Golf carts
- Snowmobiles
- Boats
- Farm equipment (I.E. tractors, sprayers, balers, etc)
- Aircrafts