1. Air Quality and Health
Derrick Snyder, NWS Paducah, KY
2018 Great Lakes Big Rivers Climate Workshop
weather.gov/paducah

2. weather.gov/paducah

3. Air quality can greatly affect
our heath.
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Nine out of 10 people worldwide breathe
polluted air.
Air pollution kills 7 million people each year.
One-third of deaths due to stroke, lung cancer,
and heart disease are caused by air
pollution…the same rate as smoking and more
than excess sodium intake!
(Source: World Health Organization)

4. What kinds of air pollutants
cause health problems?
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Particulate
Pollution
Ozone
Sulfur
Dioxide
Carbon
Monoxide

5. Particulate Pollution
(a.k.a. Particulate Matter)
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Particulate pollution is a mixture of solids and
liquid droplets.
Particulates can be emitted directly from
polluting sources or can form when various
pollutants in the atmosphere react.
Particulates less than 10 micrometers are small
enough to be inhaled into the lungs, where they
can cause serious health problems.

6. Fine vs. Coarse Particulates
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Fine
• Diameter is less than
2.5 micrometers.
• Major sources include
motor vehicles, power
plants, forest fires,
agricultural burning,
and industrial
processes.
Coarse
• Diameter is between
2.5 and 10
micrometers.
• Major sources include
crushing or grinding
operations and dust
kicked up by vehicles
traveling down roads.

7. For sensitive groups,
particulate pollution can…
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…increase susceptibility to
respiratory infections.
…aggravate existing
respiratory conditions such as
asthma and chronic bronchitis.
…result in more coughing and
shortness of breath.
…accelerate risk of heart
attacks.
…lead to chest pain, fatigue,
heart palpitations, and
shortness of breath.
…result in more ER visits and
hospital stays.

8. Ozone: Both Good and Bad
weather.gov/paducah
Good Ozone
• Found naturally in
Earth’s upper
atmosphere.
• Shields the Earth’s
surface from harmful
ultraviolet radiation that
can cause skin cancer.
Bad Ozone
• Created near the
ground by chemical
reactions of pollutants.
Forms most often
during the summer
months.
• Can irritate the lungs
can cause permanent
lung damage.

9. Ozone pollution can affect
nearly everyone.
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Sensitive Groups Children Older Adults
Active People Even Healthy
People

10. Ozone pollution primarily
impacts the lungs.
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Ozone can…
✓ irritate the respiratory system and
reduce lung function.
✓ inflame and damage the cells that
line the lungs.
✓ make the lungs susceptible to
infections.
✓ aggravate asthma and other chronic
lung illnesses.
✓ cause permanent lung damage.

11. Sulfur Dioxide
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A colorless gas that is
produced by burning
sulfur-rich fuels like
coal or oil.
Major sources of
sulfur dioxide include
power plants,
refineries, and
industrial boilers.

12. Even brief exposure to sulfur
dioxide can cause problems.
weather.gov/paducah
• People with asthma are most at risk from
sulfur dioxide, especially active people.
• Exposure of just a few minutes can cause
airways to constrict, resulting in wheezing,
shortness of breath, and chest tightness.
• At very high levels, sulfur dioxide can irritate
the respiratory system of healthy people
without asthma.

13. Carbon Monoxide
weather.gov/paducah
About 75% of all
carbon monoxide
emissions are
produced by engine
combustion.
Carbon monoxide can
also come from
industrial production
and from wildfires.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless,
odorless gas that is produced by
vehicle engine combustion.

14. Monitoring pollution with the
Air Quality Index (AQI).
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The AQI is a yardstick that measures from 0 to
500. The higher the value, the greater the threat
to public health.

15. The value of the AQI is tied
to pollutant concentration.
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Similar values are calculated for coarse PM,
ozone, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide.
Example: Fine Particulate Matter

16. Where to find AQI
information.
weather.gov/paducah
On the web:
www.airnow.gov
Email alerts:
www.enviroflash.info
AQI information is often
shown in broadcast and
print media outlets.
Airnow.gov website

17. The NWS also relays air
quality alert information.
weather.gov/paducah

18. The NWS also relays air
quality alert information.
weather.gov/paducah

19. No group can do it all alone,
so let’s work together!
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NOAA Weather-Ready
Nation Ambassadors
are organizations that
are working to
mitigate or build
resilience to extreme
weather, water, and
climate events.
Learn more and apply at weather.gov/wrn!

20. No group can do it all alone,
so let’s work together!
weather.gov/paducah
Learn more and apply at weather.gov/wrn!

21. Thank you!
weather.gov/paducah
Questions?
derrick.snyder@noaa.gov