Particulate Matter PM 10
Valley Face Deadline
to Clean Bad Air
 Maricopa
County (Phoenix area) Arizona is only the second region
in the nation that the EPA has put on a stringent
program to clean up particulate matter in the air. This
program is known as the Five Percent Plan. (California’s
San Joaquin Valley was the first) Over the next few
months the Maricopa County Association of Governments
must come up with a plan that will reduce the equivalent
of 5 percent of the particulate emissions each year
until the county reaches the federal standards. If we
fail the county faces federal sanctions, which includes
the loss of up to $1.1 billion over five years in
federal highway money. In order to meet these strict
requirements each of us must play our part. Visit
www.BringBackBlue.org for information on what you
can do to help.
What is PM 10?
Particulates are tiny particles of either solid (soot,
dust, fly ash and smoke) or liquid substances. PM 10
refers to a currently regulated particle size that is
ten microns or 1/7 the diameter of a strand of human
hair.
What contributes to
high PM 10 Alerts?
 Dust from human activities contributes significantly to
the air pollution problems in the valley. Dust from dry
desert conditions, land disturbed by people and
construction mixed with industrial and vehicular
dust/exhaust creates a toxic soup that we have no choice
but to breathe. Winter air inversions trap this toxic
soup near the ground when the warm air becomes trapped
between the cooler air in the upper atmosphere and
cooler air near the ground. Inversion Layers are a
common problem in Maricopa County. They are often made
worse due to stagnant air or lack of circulation.
Brown Cloud
Particulate matter is one of the most noticeable
problems in Maricopa County, because unlike ozone which
you cannot see, you can see particulate matter when it
becomes trapped near the earth’s surface in mass
quantity forming part of the all too familiar brown
cloud.
What are the health
risks?
The effects of air pollution on children are striking.
In 2004, two major analyses concluded that air pollution
is especially harmful to children.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and The
American Academy of Pediatrics published reports
recently on the dangers of outdoor air pollution on
children’s health, pointing out the special differences
for children.
- Trigger Asthma
Attacks. Exposure to particle and ozone pollution
worsens asthma in children and adults.
- Infant Death -
Scientists concluded that particle pollution caused
infant deaths.
- Increase cough and
bronchitis. Particle pollution increases cough and
bronchitis.
- Increase
respiratory infections. Air pollution increases risk
of upper and lower respiratory infections.
- Prevent children’s
lungs from developing fully. Children who grow up in
heavily polluted areas face an increased risk of
having underdeveloped lungs that may never recover
to their full capacity, which affects how well
children will breathe throughout their lives.
- Increase school
absences. Studies show that high levels of ozone and
particulates are linked to increased school absences
for children due to respiratory illnesses.
Particle Pollution Fact Sheet – Information on Particle
Pollution from American Lung Association 2006 State of
the Air Report.
Focusing on Children - Summary from the American Lung
Association 2006 State of the Air Report which
summarizes health impacts of air pollution on children.
PM10
Monitoring Data
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