Air Quality UpdateAir Quality Update

Wildfires of Fall 2016

National Ambient Air Quality Standards(NAAQS)

Why Special Regulations?• Common outdoor air pollutants

Criteria Pollutants

Ozone (O3) • Harmful to public health and environment

• Numerous and diverse sources

• Purpose is to protect health and welfare

• Allowed limit for Criteria Pollutants

• Regularly reviewed by EPA

• Exceeding limits will have consequences!

Think of it like a “speed limit”. Stay at or under it, we’re OK. Go above it, we can get in trouble!

Ozone (O3)

Particulate Matter (PM10, PM2.5)

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Lead (Pb)

Southern Appalachian Wildfires

• A series of large wildfires began on October 16th, 2016 and continued into early Decemberand continued into early December

• U.S. Forest Service reported 37 large wildfires

• Over 100,000 acres burned

• Over 5,000 firefighters deployed

• Fires caused by lightning, escaped campfires, and arson

• Extreme drought conditions exacerbated the fire activity

• Large fires caused poor air quality conditions across the Southeastern US

Large Incident Wildfires – November 15th

Southeast US Percent of Normal Rainfall

October 2016October 2016The Southern Appalachian Mountains received only 10-25% of the normal monthly rainfall by October of 2016. This led to dry vegetation & dry soil and contributed to the wildfires.

Southeast Drought – November 2016

Wildfire Smoke Composition

CompositionCarbon Dioxide

DependentsFuel typesCarbon Dioxide

Water Vapor

Particulate Matter

Nitrogen Oxides

Hydrocarbons

Organic Compounds

Plus thousands of other compounds

• Fuel types

• Moisture content

• Fire temperature

• Wind conditions

• Fresh smoke or Aged Smoke?

• Many other variables

Primary Pollutant of Concern from Wildfire Smoke – Particulate Matter

Health effects of Fine Particulate Matter

• Fine particulates can penetrate deep into lungs

• Aggravated chronic heart and lung diseases

• Shortness of breath

• Chest tightness

• Burning eyes

• Runny nose

• Premature death

PM2.5 Standards and Forecast Thresholds

AQ Category µg/m³ AQI Meaning

Good 0 - 12 0 - 50Air quality is considered satisfactory, and

• PM2.5 Annual Standard = 12 µg/m³

PM2.5 24-hour Forecast Thresholds, 24-hour Standard = 35 µg/m³

Good 0 - 12 0 - 50Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.

Moderate 12.1 - 35.4 51 - 100

Air quality is acceptable; however, 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

35.5 - 55.4 101 - 150Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected.

Unhealthy 55.5 - 150.4 151 - 200Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.

Very Unhealthy > 150.5 201 - 300Health alert: everyone may experience more serious health effects.

Standard = 35 µg/m³

We saw a slight increase in the annual PM2.5 Design Value statistics.

There was a much more evident increase in the daily PM2.5 Design Value.

There was a drastic increase in PM2.5 in the fourth quarter of 2016 due to the wildfires, especially in the Upstate of South Carolina.

Event-driven Air Quality Alerts

• Beginning 11/14/16, Bureau of Air Quality (BAQ) meteorologists monitored large-scale fires and meteorologists monitored large-scale fires and significant smoke/dust transported into the Southeast US that could have required an Air Quality Alert.

• If an alert was required for a significant area, BAQ meteorologists would issue county-by-county forecasts based on the AQI color chart.

HMS (Hazard Mapping System) Smoke Plume

HMS Fires

PM2.5 24-hour maxes 10/22/2016

This is a typical fall day in SC (concentrations generally below 10 µg/m³).

PM2.5 MonitorConcentrations

PM2.5 24-hour maxes Monday 11/14/2016

Monitors began reading “red” concentrations in Greenville and Spartanburg County. Fine particulate forecasting began on this date.

PM2.5 24-hour maxes Tuesday 11/15/2016

“Red” concentrations were recorded most everywhere in the state, except in the Pee Dee and Grand Strand areas of the state.

PM2.5 24-hour maxes Wednesday 11/16/2016

“Orange”/”Red” concentrations were seen most everywhere in the state, except perhaps in the Grand Strand area.

PM2.5 24-hour maxes Thursday 11/17/2016

Concentrations were reduced by Thursday, but dirty air masses pooled along the coast, with “orange” values continuing in Charleston.

PM2.5 24-hour maxes Friday 11/18/2016

Orange in the Upstate

Example of a forecast map and discussion issued during the wildfire event

Protecting Yourself from Smoke

• Pay attention to local air quality reports

• Limit outdoor activity

• Use common sense to guide your activities• Use common sense to guide your activities

• Recognize and respond to breathing issues

• If advised to remain indoors, keep indoor air as clean as possible• Keep windows and doors closed• Keep the air filters clean

• Consider using N-95 or P-100 respirators