AIR QUALITY – NOTIFYING THE PUBLIC

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OKLAHOMA AIR MONITORING SITES

KNOWING THE CURRENT AIR QUALITY CONDITION IS IMPORTANT

Air quality affects every living thing.Certain groups of people (elderly, very young,

people with breathing ailments) are more sensitive to poor air quality conditions.

Extreme conditions affect an even larger percentage of the population.

Knowing current and forecasted values can help prevent unnecessary exposure.

HOW DOES DEQ NOTIFY THE PUBLIC?

1. The Air Quality Index (AQI) (currently)

2. EPA’s AIRNow website (currently)

3. EnviroFlash (new)

4. OK E-Alerts (new)

5. Air Quality Health Advisory (new)

Return to the AQD Monitoring Page

THE AIR QUALITY INDEX

An index for reporting pollution levels

Has five rangesHas numeric valuesHas color codingLists at-risk groupsOffers suggestions

AIR QUALITY INDEX (AQI)

Identifies the pollutant of most concernGives a numeric value indicating pollutant

levelsColor code identifies the range Is standardized throughout the country

WHERE DO YOU GET AQI INFORMATION?

DEQ webpage www.deq.state.ok.us DEQ phone message (Oklahoma City) 405-702-4234

(Tulsa) 918-774-7664 AIRNow webpage www.epa.gov/airnow/aqimaps.html EnviroFlash www.deq.state.ok.us/AQDnew/index.htm

AIRNow WEBPAGE

www.epa.gov/airnow/aqimaps.html Interactive map of pollutant

concentrations Select region of interest See current, past, and forecast data Is dynamic

AIRNow OZONE MAP

AIRNow PM Map

EnviroFlash

A new electronic notification program from EPAOklahoma City is one of five pilot cities

nationallySends AQI information to youYou select the level of service you wantEmails your computer or text messages your cell

phoneLink available from DEQ web pagewww.deq.state.ok.us/AQDnew/index.htm

OK E-alerts

DEQ’s statewide email notification system.

AIR QUALITY HEALTH ADVISORIES

Compliments Ozone Alert and Clean Air Alert Programs

Now includes Particulate Matter eventsFormerly restricted to largest metro areasNow includes “statewide” health messageCan be issued for any pollutant but primarily is

for ozone and inhalable particulates Issued when concentrations are near or are

expected to be near or above EPA standards

HEALTH ADVISORY NOTIFICATION

OK E-Alert sign up www.deq.state.ok.us/AQDnew/index.htm

AIR QUALITY – NOTIFYING THE PUBLIC

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