GETTING TO KNOW ABOUT AIR POLLUTION

The Mission Statement of the NJDEP
To assist the residents of New Jersey in preserving,
GETTING
sustaining, protecting and enhancing the environment to
ensure the integration of high environmental quality, public
health and economic vitality. We will accomplish our
TO KNOW
mission in partnership with the general public, business,
environmental community and all levels of government.
Speak out for clean air. Let your local officials know that you are concerned
ABOUT AIR
about the effect air pollution may be having on your health, and that you would
support stronger pollution control measures.
POLLUTION
For more information Contact:
•
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Division of Air Quality
Bureau of Air Quality Evaluation
401 East State St.
P.O. Box 027
Trenton, NJ 08625
(609) 633-1110
NJDEP websites:
•
Air Compliance & Enforcement: www.nj.gov/dep/enforcement/air.html
•
Air Monitoring: www.nj.gov/dep/airmon
•
Air Toxics: www.nj.gov/dep/airtoxics
•
Air Quality Planning: www.nj.gov/dep/baqp
•
Air Quality Permitting: www.nj.gov/dep/aqpp
•
Asthma: www.nj.gov/dep/airtoxics/asthma.htm
•
Environmental Justice: www.nj.gov/dep/ej
New Jersey Department of Health & Senior Services
website:
•
Asthma: www.state.nj.us/health/fhs/asthma.pdf
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency websites:
•
Air Quality Index: www.epa.gov/airnow
•
Office of Children’s Health Protection:
http://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/homepage
New Jersey
•
Air Pollution & Health Risk: www.epa.gov/oar/oaqps/air_risc/3_90_022.html
Department of
James E. McGreevey, Governor
Environmental
Bradley M. Campbell, Commissioner
9/2004
Protection

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What is Air Pollution?
diagnosed with asthma, which can
Pollutant
Lead
make them more sensitive to air
Health effects
Causes damage to the brain and other parts of the body’s
Air pollution is the result of
pollution. In general, children and
nervous system. Children are most susceptible to the
air being contaminated by
the elderly are also more sensitive
effects of lead.
pollutants emitted from power
to air pollution.
Where it comes from
Mostly from a few industrial facilities, but also from the
plants, factories, motor vehicles
sanding or wearing away of old lead-based paint.
(e.g. cars, buses) and many other
Are There Federal
Pollutant
Carbon monoxide
sources, including products we
Regulations to Control
use in our homes. The pollutants
Air Pollution?
Health effects
Weakens the heart’s contractions and lowers the amount of
oxygen carried by the blood. It reduces your ability to
that contribute to air pollution are
exercise and is dangerous for people with chronic heart
ozone, carbon monoxide, lead,
The Clean Air Act requires the
disease. It can cause nausea, dizziness, headaches, and
particulate matter, nitrogen
Environmental Protection Agency
when it’s very concentrated, even death. When carbon
dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and a
monoxide reaches unhealthy levels, people with heart
(USEPA) to establish regulations
disease are most at risk.
variety of other chemicals
that limit and control the amount of
referred to as “air toxics.” The
Where it comes from
Primarily from motor vehicles, but also from incomplete
pollutants emitted into the air in
burning of any fuel.
impact of air pollution depends on
order to protect public health. Also,
the amount of pollution in the air
it required the development of
Pollutant
Nitrogen dioxide
and an individual’s health status.
National Ambient Air Quality
Health effects
Irritates the nose and throat. Appears to increase
Standards (NAAQS). Primary
susceptibility to respiratory infections. Also combines
What Are the Effects of
NAAQS are protective of people
with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to form ozone.
Air Pollution?
When nitrogen dioxide reaches unhealthy levels, children
(including sensitive populations such
and people with respiratory disease are most at risk.
as asthmatics), while secondary
Exposure to high levels of air
Where it comes from
Power plants, large industrial facilities, and motor vehicles.
NAAQS address impacts on crops,
pollution can cause a wide range
visibility and property. The Act
Pollutant
Sulfur dioxide
of effects, from eye irritation and
requires States to enforce these
runny nose to cancer and birth
regulations in order to ensure that all
Health effects
Aggravates existing lung diseases, especially bronchitis.
Constricts the breathing passages, especially in asthmatic
defects. Air pollution can also
Americans have the same health
people and people doing moderate to heavy exercise.
cause heart and lung disease, and
and environmental protection.
Causes wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing.
brain and nerve damage.
High levels of particulates appear to worsen the effect of
sulfur dioxide, and long-term exposures to both
pollutants leads to higher rates of respiratory illness.
How Many People Are
When sulfur dioxide reaches unhealthy levels, people
Affected by Air Pollution?
with asthma are most at risk.
Where it comes from
Power plants, large industrial facilities, diesel vehicles, and
All of NJ’s 8 million residents
even oil-burning home heaters.
are breathing in unhealthy amounts
of ozone pollution at some point
during the summer. Approximately
620,000 NJ residents have been

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How Does Air Pollution Directly
What is New Jersey
Act in 1970. After decades of
Affect My Health?
Doing to Control Air
regulations on mobile and
Pollution?
stationary sources of air pollution,
Pollutant
Ozone
New Jersey has made great
strides, but is still out of
Health effects
Irritates the lungs and breathing passages, causing coughing
New Jersey Department of
compliance for ozone. Air toxics
and pain in the chest and throat. Increases susceptibility to
Environmental Protection (DEP)
respiratory infections and reduces the ability to exercise.
and fine particulates also remain a
has long been in the forefront with
Effects are more severe in people with asthma and other
public health concern in New
respiratory ailments. Long-term exposure may lead to
programs aimed at cleaning the
Jersey.
scarring of lung tissue and lowered lung efficiency. When
air. New Jersey was the first state
ozone reaches unhealthy levels, active children and adults,
to implement an inspection and
How Harmful is
and people with asthma are most at risk.
maintenance program for motor
Particulate Matter?
Where it comes from
Ozone does not come directly from tailpipes or
vehicles in February 1974. In the
smokestacks. Ozone is created by the chemical reaction
early 1970s, NJ enacted rules to
between volatile organic compounds (VOC) and nitrogen
Protecting the public from
oxide in the presence of sunlight. The VOCs that form
control open burning, particulate
the harmful effects of air
ozone come from vehicle and industrial exhaust as well as
matter emissions from fuel
pollution is the primary goal of
evaporation of gasoline, solvents and paints, and many
combustion and manufacturing
the Clean Air Act. In 1997,
other sources. Nitrogen oxides are formed when fuel is
burned at high temperatures from sources like electric
processes, and to establish a
USEPA set new particulate
utilities, motor vehicles and residential heating.
permit process for facilities.
matter standards for very fine
The NJ Air Pollution Control
particulate matter known as
Pollutant
Particulates
Act resulted in reducing air
PM2.5 (smaller than 2.5 microns
Health effects
Aggravate existing heart and lung diseases, change the
pollution emissions from power
in diameter - much smaller than
body’s defenses against inhaled materials, and damage lung
plants, factories and many more
the width of a human hair). The
tissue. The elderly, children and those with chronic lung or
heart disease are most sensitive. Lung impairment can
sources. States develop state
new standards reflect recent
persist for 2-3 weeks after exposure to high levels of
implementation plans (SIPs) that
studies showing that fine
particulate matter. When PM2.5 reaches unhealthy levels,
explain how each state will do its
particles can cause very serious
people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and
children are most at risk.
job under the Clean Air Act. A
health effects-including an
state implementation plan is a
increase in respiratory illness
Where it comes from
Particulates can be emitted directly into the air in the form
collection of the regulations a
and even premature deaths - at
of dirt, soot, smoke and dust from many kinds of air
pollution sources. Particulates are also formed in the
state will use to clean up polluted
very low levels. Programs to
atmosphere as a result of chemical reactions between
areas. The DEP involves the
achieve the new standards will
pollutants emitted by fuel burning in diesel cars, trucks
public, through hearings and
provide additional protection to
and buses, power plants, industry and other sources.
opportunities to comment, in the
all NJ residents, but most
Pollutant
Air Toxics
development of their state
importantly to residents living in
implementation plans.
Health effects
With increased exposure the risk of developing cancer,
urban areas and high traffic
birth defects, learning disabilities, heart and lung desease,
New Jersey has worked at
areas where the current
and brain and nerve damage is increased.
complying with the National
standards are is not being met.
Where it comes from
Factories, refineries, power plants, cars, trucks, buses and
Ambient Air Quality Standards
cleaning products.
since the passage of the Clean Air

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AQI Category
What Can You Do to Protect Yourself and
VERY UNHEALTHY
Health Effects
Your Family?
Increasingly severe symptoms and impaired breathing
likely in active children and adults, and people with
Are you or someone in your family sensitive to ozone or fine
heart and/or lung diseases, such as asthma; increasing
likelihood of respiratory effects in general population.
particulates? Children, the elderly, people with breathing problems
Actions to Take
Active children and adults, and people with respira-
such as asthma, and adults who are active outdoors, including outdoor
tory diseases, such as asthma, should avoid all
workers and healthy exercisers are all considered “sensitive groups”.
outdoor exertion; everyone else, especially children,
should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion.
They are the first to feel the effects of ozone air pollution and need
AQI Index Values
to take extra steps to protect themselves from harm. For fine
201-300
particulates, the most sensitive people are all those who react to ozone,
AQI Category
UNHEALTHY
gories
plus people with heart conditions.
Health Effects
Greater likelihood of respiratory symptoms and
Keep track of air pollution levels. Find out if the Air Quality Index
t
e
breathing difficulty in active children and adults, and
is reported by your local newspaper or radio station, which will give
people with heart and/or lung diseases, such as asthma;
possible respiratory effects in general population.
you the previous day’s information and today’s forecast. You may also
Actions to Take
Active children and adults, and people with heart
find your local air quality forecast by watching NJ Network or other
problems such as congestive heart failure or
TV broadcasts or by calling 1-800-782-0160 for a recorded summary of
respiratory diseases, such as asthma, should avoid
prolonged outdoor exertion; everyone else, especially
QI) Ca
the day’s forecast.
children, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
If the air quality is unhealthy, you may need to adjust your plans for the
AQI Index Values
151-200
day. Avoid prolonged vigorous activity outdoors. The health effects of
x (A
ozone are worsened over extended periods of exposure, and by the deep,
AQI Category
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS
rapid breathing that accompanies exercise. Plan the most strenuous
Health Effects
Increasing likelihood of heart or respiratory symptoms
activities for the early morning hours, before ozone levels climb. On days
and breathing discomfort in active children and adults,
and for people with lung diseases, such as asthma.
with high levels of fine particulate, even the early morning hours can be
Actions to Take
Active children and adults, and people with heart
unhealthy. So on high particulate days, strenuous outdoor activities should
and/or lung diseases, such as asthma, should limit
be avoided throughout the day.
prolonged outdoor or heavy exertion.
Avoid driving on high ozone days. Instead take mass transit, walk
AQI Index Values
101-150
or share a ride or car pool.
AQI Category
MODERATE
What is the Air Quality Index (AQI)?
Health Effects
Unusually sensitive individuals may experience
breathing problems.
The AQI is a way to report past and future air quality. It compares
pollutant levels to their health standards, takes into account multiple
Actions to Take
Unusually sensitive individuals should consider
Air Quality Inde
limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
pollutants and assigns an air quality rating like “good” or “unhealthy.” The
AQI Index Values
51-100
AQI focuses on health effects you may experience within a few hours or
days after breathing polluted air. The five pollutants used in the AQI are
AQI Category
GOOD
those for which there are national health standards: carbon monoxide,
nitrogen dioxide, ground-level ozone, particulates and sulfur dioxide.
AQI Index Values
0-50

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