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The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has released the Bureau of Air’s annual Air Quality Report for calendar year 2010. The Report is available on the Illinois EPA web site at www.epa.state.il.us/air/air-quality-report/2010/index.html.
Air quality data monitored during 2010 were similar to 2009 data. Air quality was either good or moderate more than 91 percent of the time throughout Illinois, compared to 96 percent in 2009. There were 32 days in 2010 when air quality in some part of Illinois was considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups;” this compares to 13 days in 2009 that were “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”
The Illinois EPA maintains a network of 80 air quality monitoring sites with more than 200 instruments throughout the state. The monitoring network is strategically designed to identify air pollution trends. The data collected are then used to keep the public informed and to identify potential need for change in the Agency’s approach to air pollution regulations.
“The Illinois EPA strives to provide a healthy environment for all citizens,” said Illinois EPA Interim Director John Kim. “We encourage residents to be aware of their air quality by staying informed.” Daily air quality information can be found at the Illinois EPA website: http://www.epa.state.il.us/air/aqi/index.html.
The report shows that air quality trends for criteria pollutants, pollutants for which air quality standards have been developed (particulate matter 10 and 2.5, ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and lead) along with some heavy metals, nitrates, sulfates, volatile organic and toxic compounds, are continuing to show downward or stable trends that are well below the established standards.
From 2001 through 2010, the data show decreases in pollutants across the board, including: 25 percent for particulate matter (PM10), 24 percent for smaller particulates (PM2.5), 43 percent for sulfur dioxide, 25 percent for nitrogen dioxide, 52 percent for carbon monoxide, 33 percent for lead and 19 percent for ozone.
Illinois’ data system ranks as one of the best in the nation, with over 90 percent efficiency, in the collection of high quality data. This high efficiency rate guarantees that the network is providing Illinois EPA and the public with a complete and accurate description of air quality in Illinois.
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has released the Bureau of Air’s annual Air Quality Report for calendar year 2010. The Report is available on the Illinois EPA web site at www.epa.state.il.us/air/air-quality-report/2010/index.html.
Air quality data monitored during 2010 were similar to 2009 data. Air quality was either good or moderate more than 91 percent of the time throughout Illinois, compared to 96 percent in 2009. There were 32 days in 2010 when air quality in some part of Illinois was considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups;” this compares to 13 days in 2009 that were “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”
The Illinois EPA maintains a network of 80 air quality monitoring sites with more than 200 instruments throughout the state. The monitoring network is strategically designed to identify air pollution trends. The data collected are then used to keep the public informed and to identify potential need for change in the Agency’s approach to air pollution regulations.
“The Illinois EPA strives to provide a healthy environment for all citizens,” said Illinois EPA Interim Director John Kim. “We encourage residents to be aware of their air quality by staying informed.” Daily air quality information can be found at the Illinois EPA website: http://www.epa.state.il.us/air/aqi/index.html.
The report shows that air quality trends for criteria pollutants, pollutants for which air quality standards have been developed (particulate matter 10 and 2.5, ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and lead) along with some heavy metals, nitrates, sulfates, volatile organic and toxic compounds, are continuing to show downward or stable trends that are well below the established standards.
From 2001 through 2010, the data show decreases in pollutants across the board, including: 25 percent for particulate matter (PM10), 24 percent for smaller particulates (PM2.5), 43 percent for sulfur dioxide, 25 percent for nitrogen dioxide, 52 percent for carbon monoxide, 33 percent for lead and 19 percent for ozone.
Illinois’ data system ranks as one of the best in the nation, with over 90 percent efficiency, in the collection of high quality data. This high efficiency rate guarantees that the network is providing Illinois EPA and the public with a complete and accurate description of air quality in Illinois.
