|
Air Quality
Air quality is an issue important to Florida because it affects human health and the environment, reduces visibility, and forms smog. To track Florida's outdoor air quality, the Department of Environmental Protection measures the levels of certain air pollutants at monitoring sites around the state, currently using 215 monitors in 35 counties to cover the majority of Florida's population. The pollutants measured come largely from burning fuels in power plants, factories, and vehicles. To confirm that the public breathes healthy air, the department uses the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Air Quality Index. The Air Quality Index is a simplified way to advise the public of possible health effects from air pollution. Healthy air quality corresponds to EPA's Index levels of 'good' and 'moderate.'
Why Is This Important?
Few things are as important as the quality of the air we breathe. Monitoring and improving air quality is important to Floridians because poor air quality affects human health and the environment. Sensitive individuals are particularly affected by lower air quality, although poor air quality also reduces the quality of life of all Floridians, as well as the experience of visitors to the state.
How Is Florida Doing?
Florida generally has very good air quality. While the state strives to have healthy air quality 100 percent of time, that goal is not yet possible to reach. Each year there are events such as wildfires and weather that occasionally reduce the air quality to unhealthy levels.
Scorecard
What Influences Air Quality?
Two factors influence our air quality: (1) the amount of pollutants emitted into the air; and (2) the weather conditions affecting what happens to those pollutants. Pollutants are emitted into the air by many sources such as cars, trucks, power plants, industrial facilities, and fires. Once in the atmosphere, some pollutants go through chemical changes that make them unhealthier. For example, in the summer, strong sunlight causes nitrogen oxides (from the burning of gasoline, diesel fuel, natural gas, and coal) to react with other compounds in the air to form ozone, also known as 'smog.' When winds are weak, pollutants such as ozone can build up in the local air, leading to poor air quality. When winds are brisk, pollutants tend to spread out rapidly, leading to better air quality. Sometimes pollutants can travel long distances, however. For example, fine particles from coal-burning power plants in other states may occasionally reach Florida, though generally not in amounts great enough to violate federal air quality standards.
What Is the State's Role?
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection maintains a comprehensive monitoring program to evaluate Florida's outdoor air quality. This monitoring data, in addition to computer modeling, is scrutinized prior to issuing any new permit for a major source of air pollution. The department is also responsible for ensuring sources of air pollution, such as power plants and factories, obtain and comply with required air pollution permits. In addition, the department has pollution prevention programs to assist smaller industries, such as dry cleaners, in reducing their pollution.
For More Information
|
