Air Monitoring
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Air Monitoring Site
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Parameters
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Quilter Environmental Center
348 South Erie, Toledo
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PM2.5 RASS, PM2.5 SASS, Ozone
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Low Service Pumping Station
Yondota Road, Jerusalem Township
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Ozone
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Maintenance Storage Building
Waterville
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Ozone
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Water Treatment Plant
600 Collins Park Drive, Toledo
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PM2.5
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Reynolds Road Pump Station
Airport Highway, Toledo
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PM2.5 RASS & PM2.5 SASS
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East Side Pump Station
Front and Lee, Toledo
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PM10 |
RASS samplers give us the concentration of particulates in the air. The SASS sampler tells us the concentration of particulates in the air along with the type of particulates in the air.
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
Ozone (8-Hour Allowable Concentration is 0.075ppm)
| Location |
2004-2006 4th Highest 8-hour Average |
2004 4th Highest 8-hour Average |
2005 4th Highest 8-hour Average |
2006 4th Highest 8-hour Average |
|
348 South Erie
|
0.074
|
0.067
|
0.080
|
0.075
|
|
Low Service
|
0.079
|
0.078
|
0.087
|
0.074
|
|
Waterville
|
0.075
|
0.074
|
0.084
|
0.069
|
PM2.5 Particulates (One Year Allowable Concentration is 15mg/m³)
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Location
|
2003-2005 Average
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2004-2006 Average
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2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
|
348 South Erie
|
14.67
|
14.04
|
14.53
|
13.68
|
15.80
|
12.65
|
|
348 South Erie Continuous
|
9.93
|
10.22
|
9.73
|
9.56
|
10.40
|
10.71
|
|
Collins Park
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14.37
|
13.60
|
14.30
|
13.33
|
15.5
|
11.94
|
|
Reynolds Road Pumping Station
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14.33
|
13.77
|
14.3
|
12.98
|
15.70
|
12.62
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PM10 Particulates (One Year Allowable Concentration is 50mg/m³)
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Location
|
2004-2006 Average
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
|
East Side Pump Station
|
20.6
|
18.6
|
21
|
22.1
|
Ozone
Ozone is a colorless, odorless gas composed of three oxygen molecules that can be protective or harmful, depending on where it is found in the atmosphere. Ozone is naturally occurring in the stratosphere, about 10-30 miles above the Earth’s surface, which in turn protects our planet from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Unfortunately, the stratospheric ozone has been thinned by man-made chemical refrigerants like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), methyl bromide, and carbon tetrachloride. This synergistic relationship means that more UV radiation is reaching the troposphere due to the thinning of stratospheric ozone and more troposphere ozone (ground level) is being created by these UV rays breaking a molecular oxygen off of a nitrogen oxide (NOx) or volatile organic compound (VOC). Ozone at ground-level (troposphere) is formed when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds emitted by cars, power plants, refineries, industrial boilers, chemical manufacturers, and other sources react with sunlight. The NOx and VOCs are hit by UV radiation and an oxygen molecule is severed from the component. This oxygen free radical then combines with the O2, which makes up about 17% of the air we breath and forms O3 (ozone). Ground-level ozone is the key ingredient in the chemical quagmire called smog. Smog is in particularly higher concentrations during the summer due to higher UV levels which catalyze the entire process.
Health Effects of Ground-level Ozone
Environmentally, ground-level ozone can be detrimental to plants and ecosystems. Ground-level ozone interferes with plant’s abilities to produce and store food. This also makes plants more susceptible to diseases, insects, competition, and harsh weather. In short, ground-level ozone weakens plants. The ground-level ozone makes the leaves on plants turn dark brown and the plant cannot photosynthesize properly. When photosynthesis is compromised crop yields are lower. As you can imagine, when plants have brown leaves instead of vibrant green leaves the aesthetics of the trees are also lost. This is harmful to parks and recreation areas also since people don’t want to travel to see sick trees with dead leaves.
Human health effects involved with ground-level ozone include irritation of the respiratory system, inflammation of the lining of the lungs, which can over time reduce lung function, and aggravation of existing lung problems such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis. All of these conditions lower the quality of life for people living in areas with ground-level ozone issues. Animal studies even suggest that ozone may reduce the immune system’s ability to fight off bacterial infections in the respiratory system.
There are four groups of people that are particularly sensitive to ozone.
1. Children. Active children are at the highest risk since they spend a large part of their summer vacation outdoors involved in vigorous activities. Children are also more likely to have asthma or other respiratory ailments. Asthma is the most common chronic disease for children and may be aggravated by ozone exposure. Imagine being a child and not being able to run and play with your friends because it could trigger an asthma attack.
2. Adults who are active outdoors. Healthy adults of all ages who exercise or work vigorously outdoors are considered a “sensitive group” because they have a higher level of exposure than those people who are less active outdoors.
3. People with existing respiratory diseases. There is no evidence that ground-level ozone causes asthma or other chronic respiratory disease, but these diseases do make the lungs more vulnerable.
4. People with unusual susceptibility to ozone. For reasons that currently puzzle scientist some people are just more sensitive to ozone than an average person.
You can protect yourself by not performing strenuous activities outside during the hottest hours of the day. If you like to exercise outside, try to exercise early in the morning or later in the evening. If you work outdoors try to schedule the strenuous activities early in the morning or later in the evening. You not only run the risk of heat related illnesses when working hard outdoors during the hottest times of day, but during these times ozone concentrations will be at it’s highest levels.
Scientists have studied other groups to find out whether they are at increased risk from ozone. So far there is little to no evidence to suggest that elderly or people, or people with heart disease have heightened sensitivity to ozone. However, like other adults, elderly and people with heart problems will be at higher risk from ozone exposure if they suffer from a respiratory disease or are active outdoors when ozone concentrations are elevated.
How citizens can help
If you take a look at the pie charts below you can see that over half of the nitrogen oxides, and almost half of the volatile organic compounds, are generated by motor vehicles. We can make a huge difference by altering our driving patterns. Properly maintained vehicles, smaller vehicles, carpooling, taking public transit, replacing gasoline lawn mowers with electric or manual lawnmowers, or riding a bicycle are just a few ways we can reduce NOX and VOCs. Government agencies will continue to monitor industries to ensure they are not over polluting. Utilities are a large contributor to NOx, so by reducing home energy needs we can reduce the amount of NOx emitted into the air. Hanging clothes outside to dry instead of using the dryer, and keeping the thermostat at 72 degrees Fahrenheit are just two very good ways to reduce the amount of NOx in our atmosphere. These two methods will also help lower your energy bill.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) is an index for reporting daily air quality. It tells you how clean or polluted your air is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for you. The AQI focuses on health effects you may experience within a few hours or days after breathing ozone polluted air. The daily AQI can be found in the Toledo Blade.
Effective summer 2008, we will no longer call “Ozone Action Days”. Our new system of informing the public of air quality is a more proactive method of letting the public become aware of air conditions by describing air quality as good, satisfactory, precautionary measures should be taken by sensitive groups, and caution.
This will eliminate some gray areas previously encountered with past ozone plans.
Particulates
Particulate matter (PM) in the ambient air comes from a variety of sources and has an equally broad range of size, composition, and other characteristics. Numerous scientific studies have provided evidence that PM in the ambient air is associated with increases in daily morbidity and mortality. PM2.5 is composed of particles that are 2.5 microns (micrometer) in size that are directly emitted as products of chemical reactions of gases in the atmosphere. Examples of directly emitted particles include those from combustion sources such as residential wood combustion, agricultural open burning, coal and oil fired power plants and industries, as well as dust particles from roads and fields.
Many questions remain about particles and why they are associated with adverse health effects, including premature mortality and higher instances of respiratory illness. The EPA , along with others, are conducting research to better understand which attributes of particles may be causing these health effects, and who may be most susceptible to their effects, how people are exposed to PM air pollution, how particles form in the atmosphere, and what the contributions are from various sources in the different regions of the country.
At our department, we sample daily to get the concentration of PM2.5 in the ambient air. We also use special filters that allow us to see , not only the size, but the type of particulate in the ambient air. Like with ozone, if concentration levels of PM are in exceedance it is reported in the Toledo Blade.
For more information on particulate matter click here
Noise
The City of Toledo has implemented an anti-noise law to reduce ambient noise levels in the City. The city recognizes that this is necessary to preserve, protect, and promote public health. Our division is responsible for enforcing the industrial Anti-Noise Law, Chapter 507, Part 5 of the Toledo Municipal Code. This law enforces noise levels emitted from fixed machinery or equipment, or similar mechanical devices. Noises that are NOT covered by this law are residential noise, noise from pets, or loud automobiles. If you have issues with these, then contact the Toledo Police Department. Our division only handles noise relating to industrial processes.
Zoning District Sound Level Restrictions
Allowable sound levels in Toledo are based on the following zoning districts.
|
Zoning District
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Time Period
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May Not Exceed Sound Level (dbA)
|
|
RS-12, RS-9, RS-6, RD-6, RM-12, POS, IC
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10 pm - 7 a.m.
|
55
|
|
RS-12, RS-9, RS-6, RD-6, RM-12, POS, IC
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7 a.m. – 10 p.m.
|
60
|
|
RM-24, RM-36,RMH
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10 p.m. - 7 a.m.
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60
|
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RM-24, RM-36,RMH
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7 a.m. – 10 p.m.
|
65
|
|
CN, CS, CO, CM, CR, CD, IP
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10 p.m. - 7 a.m.
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65
|
|
CN, CS, CO, CM, CR, CD, IP
|
7 a.m. – 10 p.m.
|
70
|
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IL
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At All Times
|
70
|
|
IG
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At All Times
|
75
|
If the measurement location is on the boundary of two zoning districts, the lower sound level must be observed.
Exemptions
The following are exempt from noise level regulations:
- Noise from safety signals, warning devices, and emergency pressure relief valves
- Noise from authorized emergency vehicles responding to an emergency
- Noise from emergency work
- Noise from authorized public activities such as parades, fireworks, sporting events, musical productions, and other activities that are approved by the City Council
- Noise from school, college, or university sporting events authorized by the Board of Education
Construction Noise
The use of any pile driver, shovel, hammer derrick, hoist tractor, roller, or other mechanical apparatus operated by fuel or electricity in construction must not operate between 10:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. within a residential area, or within 500 feet of a school or hospital, except for temporary conditions approved by our division.
90 dbA Sound Level
The maximum sound produced by any piece of construction equipment manufactured after March 5, 1977, within a residential area, or within 500 feet of a school or hospital is 90 dbA
Vibration Limitations
Steady state vibration shall not exceed 0.20 inches per second peak particle velocity, or it’s equitant in displacement or acceleration, in any one of three mutually perpendicular components of motion (vertical, horizontal, or tranversional). Impulse vibration shall not exceed 0.4 inches per second peak particle velocity (or it’s equivalent in displacement or acceleration) on any one of the three mutually perpendicular components of motion except blasting or pile driving, which shall not exceed 2.0 inches per peak particle velocity. All vibration recording shall be made on the ground adjacent to the closest structure. Traffic is excluded from these vibration limitations.