Laura J. DeGuire, Environmental Quality SpecialistAIM Partnership Forum on May 10, 2011

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Air Quality Division

1-2-3-

Easy Air Quality Communication Tools via MIair

Pollutants in Outdoor Air

IndustrialPlants

Natural SourcesCrustal Dust, &

Plants

Home Heating & Other Combustion

SourcesElectric

Utility Plants

Vehicular Traffic

Ambient Air Pollution

Multiple Complex Chemical Reactions

AgriculturalActivities

(crop & animal)

Michigan’s Air Quality

Air “measurements” in Michigan are usually pretty good … but not always where they need to be to protect everyone’s health when “hammered” by an air episode.

MIairMichigan’s Real-time Air Data

MIair is Your air!

MIair

MIair is Your air!

AIR QUALITY INDEX TAB - ACTION! DAY TAB - NOTIFICATION TAB

It's Easy to Navigate MIair

You can always return to DEQ, DEQ “AIR”, or DEQ Air Monitoring web page simply by selecting the link at the top.

Use the tabs at the top of the window to move around the MIair pages.

The Forecast Discussion is helpful in knowing what air conditions are expected.

MIair is Your air!A hotlink to AIRNow provides a national perspective.

AQI information helps “Protect”

The Air Quality Index is a tool used to communicate potential air quality concerns in a timely manner … especially to “protect” the health of sensitive groups such as children, asthmatics, people with heart disease, & people who work/exercise strenuously outdoors.

MIair is Your air!

Air Quality Index (AQI) Tab

The AQI provides a “snapshot” of current air quality levels.

The AQI map as shown here is a standardized representation of air data for ozone and PM2.5.

If two or more pollutants are monitored at any location, the AQI represents the pollutant with the “worst” levels.

Select the Legend for

more details

Information on Breakpoints and the "Actions to Protect

Health" fact sheet

MIair is Your air!

Urging “Caution”

Once you know the daily AQI color forecast, you can make choices that reduce exposure and reduce emissions.

Choose to: PROTECT HEALTH by reducing

strenuous/prolonged exertion when poor air quality is expected.

TAKE ACTION! to reduce air pollution levels by driving less, using energy efficient products, and by opting not to burn.

MIair is Your air!

AQI Health Statements

.

Levels of Health Concern

Numerical Value

Meaning

GoodGREEN

0-50 Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.

ModerateYELLOW

51-100 Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.

Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

ORANGE

101-150 Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected

UnhealthyRED

151-200 Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.

Very UnhealthyPURPLE

201-300 Health alert: everyone may experience more serious health effects.

HazardousMAROON

> 300 Health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected.

MIair is Your air!

NOTE:

Michigan’s air usually falls in the “green” or“yellow” range.

Sometimes “orange” values occur & more infrequently,“red” values.

Michigan’s air quality has never recorded“maroon” levels.

MIair is Your air!

“Building” onto Ozone Action!The Action! Day program has been one of Michigan’s most successful air outreach programs.

It began with Ozone Action! rollout in Detroit during 1984 and West Michigan in 1985. Since then, similar programs have spread across the nation.It encourages voluntary actions to reduce the air emissions that generate pollution.

MIair is Your air!

Benefits of Action! Days

Action! Day Focus: Reduce pollution precursors in areas of influence along with areas of impact.

Health Message:People with health concerns know Action! Days indicate higher air pollution values are expected & can take action to protect themselves.

Impact

Influence

ACTION! DAYS

Ozone Action!

Day

• Notification via fax, e-mail & text messages.

• News media - TV, radio & newspapers share the message with the general public.

• NWS weather wire.• Web notification MIair,

Clean Air Coalitions, and AIRNow.

Action! Days Tab

MIair is Your air!

Action!Days Header Detail:

• About Action! Days -Information and links to local partners

• What Can I Do? -Specific Actions! that reduce pollution and protect health

• Receive Notices -Links to EnviroFlash notification information

• Forecast Discussion

EnviroFlash is an automated Air Quality Index ( ) tool that sends a forecast message to subscribers at a level they select. Subscribers are also notified of Action! Days.

MIair is Your air!

EnviroFlash AQI Notification

Additional Option:UV EnviroFlash Forecast

Michigan DEQ added the option to receive UV Radiation notices as an additional service to residents.

This is done in partnership with the American Cancer Society and State of Michigan.

Reinforces the message to: Avoid sun when UV levels highest. Cover skin with clothing & use

UVA&B sunscreen.Wear a hat and sunglasses.

MIair is Your air!

Air Quality Notification Tab

MIair is Your air!

Why Michigan Participates

Even with a “clipped” budget and staff, a federal mandate requires that DEQ provide information … and using EnviroFlash has allowed the DEQ to get timely air information directly to the public at low cost!

Staff time and program expenses are fairly low.

MIair is Your air!

1211

7

9

2

4

1

5

10

8

3

6

Michigan AQI Forecast Areas

1. Eastern UP2. Traverse City3. Ludington4. Grand Rapids5. Benton Harbor6. Kalamazoo 7. Lansing8. Houghton Lake9. Saginaw10. Flint11. Ann Arbor12. Detroit

MIair is Your air!

Choose a Color -Example Notifications

Msg From: epacdx@csc.com (Air qualityforecastfor Detroit)Detroit: 2/3 forecast forParticle Pollution (2.5 microns) is Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.

MIair is Your air!

Breakdown of Forecast Level Request

1 2 3 4 5 6 7Good Moderate

Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

Action Days OnlyUnhealthy

Very Unhealthy Hazardous

Most People “ Pick” Orange

MIair is Your air!

Monitoring Data Tab

MIair is Your air!

Air monitors in various locations across Michigan report hourly values. The raw (not fully quality assured) data is displayed in near real-time.

By using the Air Monitoring tabs, you can review past data.

<< < Today > >>

<< = one week back < = one day back> = one day forward

>> = one week forwardToday = takes you back to the current readings.

MIair is Your air!

Ozone & PM2.5 Map Tabs

Use the “Legend” to help interpret

the map.

Select “Animate” to put the map in motion

MIair is Your air!

MIair is Not a Perfect System Some of the “Vices” …

• MONITOR VALUES DON’T ALWAYS MATCH THE FORECAST: Forecasts are based on expected values for regional monitors, not source-impacted monitors.

• FEW BAD AIR DAYS TO TEST PROGRAM: Elevated pollution levels are rare, so the program is not well tested during periods of poor air quality.

• “HUH?” FACTOR: Public is confused between … AQI forecasts vs. actual monitor data; and NAAQS (federal health standards) vs. the AQI daily health

indicator.

• OCCASIONAL ON-LINE MAP ERRORS: Since the AQI shows raw data which is not yet quality assured, an occasional bad value may appear.

MIair is Your air!

I’ll “Level” With You ..

MESSAGE CLARIFICATION NEEDED:• STRESS … Actions! to reduce air emissions and

Actions! to protect health.• ENSURE ... the health message is “reduce

exertion”, not “don’t exercise”. Suggest “When air is unhealthy try a light jog instead of a run”; “Rotate players frequently in sports/games”, etc.”

Reduce prolonged physical exertion when air quality is poor. Follow the AQI health guidelines.

The “Wrenching” TruthSadly, much of Michigan is …

• Not yet familiar with MIair, the AQI, EnviroFlash nor the difference between the NAAQS air standards and the daily AQI health indicator.

• Not enrolled. Enrollment has not increased as quickly as we would like. More rigorous marketing is needed, however staff time is severely limited.

Note: Funding limitations prevent the optimal marketing of MIair to Michigan residents.

. MIair is Your air!

“Axing” For Help To Grow EnviroFlash

The sole purpose of EnviroFlash notifications is to provide AQI information that helps people make good choices … especially when air quality is expected to be poor. Michigan DEQ wants to engage partners to help market the program.

Constructive ideas how to improve and provide better information are welcome.

We Market MIair, AQI & EFone “step” at a time…

• Partner with Asthma Initiative of Michigan and other Asthma Programs

• Work with AARP which has published information in newsletter articles.

• Promote the MIair AQI and EF info with each news reporter contact.

• Provide outreach materials for schools to use for recess and sports programs.

• Where possible DEQ will continue to work with local health departments, community groups, local clean air coalitions, tribes and other organizations to multiply the message across the state.

DEQ info on webpage:www.michigan.gov/airAir Publications listed under Spotlight

1. Actions to Protect Health Fact Sheet2. AQI Fact Sheet3. Michigan EnviroFlash Program Fact Sheet4. Idle Reduction Fact Sheet & Draft Policy for Schools

Example DEQ Materials

Example EPA Materials

EPA info on AIRNow webpage:www.airnow.gov1. Learning Center web info2. Why is Coco Orange? book3. School Flag Program4. Magic School Bus gets Cleaned Up

Real-time air info via is easy as:

1-

2-

3-

MIair

MIair

Do your share to clean the air … becauseMIair is Your air!

www.michigan.gov/air & select

MIair

Air Quality Index (AQI) - maps and graphs of current air quality using health indicator colors. Includes air quality forecast discussion.

Action! Days - are called when ozone or fine particulate (PM2.5) levels are forecast to be high. Suggests “actions” to reduce emissions and to reduce exposure.

Notifications - receive free, automated EnviroFlash e-mail or cell phone text messages. (You receive only the information you want!)

Monitoring Data - all continuous air monitoring and meteorological data collected is displayed in an hourly format.

PM2.5 & Ozone Maps - a map “picture” of current air quality levels for ozone and fine particles.

Links - provide more DEQ air information as well as great links to EPA, local partners, and other useful web locations.

Real-time air quality information:

MIair is Your air!