Why do we monitor air quality in Lane County? LRAPA’s monitoring network LRAPA’s air quality monitoring network consists of seven monitoring sites that measure a total of 46 parameters. The agency collects about 300,000 hours of pollutant-related data per year. At an estimated operational cost of $281,272 per year, LRAPA’s network provides Lane County with comprehensive data on local air quality. Without the local program, the Lane County network could have as few as four sites, with a total of four to six sets of equipment, and a collection basis of fewer than The Willamette Valley is bordered by the Coast Ozone: good up high, bad down below 40,000 hours of pollutant-related data annually. Range to the west and the Cascade Mountains to the While ozone in the upper atmosphere protects us LRAPA’s network includes three locations in east. During fall and winter months, temperature in- from the sun’s ultraviolet waves, ground level ozone Eugene, and one each in Springfield, Oakridge, versions trap cold air near the valley floor with slightly is harmful to human health and the environment. Cottage Grove, and Saginaw. warmer air aloft. The combination of cold, stagnant air Although the Eugene/Springfield area is one of the Amazon Park: Ozone, PM (South Eugene) and restricted ventilation causes air pollutants to build cleanest places in the country for ozone, periods of 2.5 up in the valley. In colder months, temperature inver- air stagnation during hot summer months can result Cottage Grove: PM2.5 (City Shops) sions trap fine . During summer months, in elevated levels of ozone. Ozone is not a directly Four Corners: PM10, PM2.5 (Highway 99) valley inversions trap dust from agricultural opera- emitted pollutant. It forms when oxides of nitrogen Oakridge: PM10, PM2.5 (Community Center) tions, vehicle exhaust and other pollutants, forming a and volatile organic compounds are “baked” by the Saginaw: Ozone (Fire Station) brown . High summertime temperatures and low sun and undergo a chemical reaction to form ozone. Santa Clara: ( only) wind speeds contribute to the formation of ozone, or Vehicle exhaust, vapors from refueling, the use of sol- Springfield: PM2.5 (Springfield City Hall) smog. Smoke from summer wildfires may also add to vents, and industrial emissions all contribute to ozone pollution problems. formation. The problem with particles Particulate matter is made up of tiny specks of solid material that get into the air. Pollen, spores, dust, dirt and soot are examples of natural particles Junction City McKenzie floating around in the air. In the southern Willamette Hwy. 36 I-5 River Hwy. 101 Hwy. Hwy. 99 Leaburg Valley valley, smoke from residential wood heating is the Coburg Florence Hwy. 126 major contributor to winter time . Along Veneta Hwy. 126 Spring eld with particulates from wood smoke, vehicle exhaust Ocean Paci c Eugene Cascade Scan the QR Willamette and industrial sources all contribute to poor air quality I-5 Mountains code to access Valley Hwy. 58 during cold winter months. Creswell a detailed monitoring site Fine particulates are measured in microns and Cottage Grove Oakridge are about 50 times smaller than the diameter of a map and site I-5 human hair. Most of the time, they can’t be seen. Monitoring Sites photos.

When inhaled, they go deep into the lungs and cause Meteorology Only irritation. Fine particulates are harmful because they stay in the lungs. Exposure to fine particulates can N cause health problems for people, especially those Map: Lane Council of Governments with pre-existing conditions. Measuring Air Pollution Reporting Air Quality

How do we measure air pollution? How is the air today? Air Quality Monitoring stations have special instruments The United States Environmental Protection Agen- to measure the amount of specific pollutants in the cy (EPA) has developed an (AQI) to Monitoring in air. Using information from the monitors, it can be provide the public with simple information about local determined whether the air is healthy or unhealthy for air quality. EPA uses information from local monitoring Lane County people. stations to give daily reports about air quality and the LRAPA measures particulate matter at five sites in possible health impacts on bad air days. Reports are Lane County: west Eugene, south Eugene, downtown given during television weather reports, published in Springfield, Cottage Grove and Oakridge. Particulate daily newspapers, and displayed at lrapa.org. matter is measured using two methods. The first The AQI has four color-coded categories that method uses a filter that captures particles. The filters define air quality and the risk associated with each are weighed to determine how much pollution is con- category. The colors make it easy for people to under- tained in each cubic meter of air that has been drawn stand when air quality is good or when it is reaching into the sampler. The second method measures par- unhealthy levels. ticles with a nephelometer, which uses a light beam and light detector. Light reflected from the particles determines the concentration of particles in the air. LRAPA measures ozone concentrations at Amazon park in south Eugene and in Saginaw, near Cottage Grove. To determine ozone levels, a pump brings an air sample into equipment that uses ul- tra-violet light and a two-step process that calculates Air quality is considered satisfac- the amount of ozone in the sample. Good tory and air pollution poses little or no risk. Real-time air quality monitoring data can be ac- cessed on the LRAPA website: http://mdas.lrapa.org/ Air quality is acceptable, how- Moderate ever, at these levels there may be a moderate health risk for a Interested in more detailed air very small number of people. quality data? Scan the QR code for a Certain groups of people who summary of monitored parameters Unhealthy for are particularly sensitive to the harmful effects of certain pollut- that are updated hourly. Sensitive Groups ants are likely to be affected at this level. The general public may begin Community partners Unhealthy to experience adverse health effects. Members of sensitive working together to ensure groups may experience more serious health effects. clean air for everyone

Want to know more? Visit lrapa.org or call 541-736-1056