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Air Quality in Spokane
Congratulations, Spokane! After decades-long efforts to improve air quality, we are officially in attainment of all federal, health-based air pollution standards as of August 2005.
A series of efforts brought Spokane into attainment of both the carbon monoxide (CO)and the particulate matter (PM10) standards. Significant efforts have been made by businesses to reduce their emissions. And we have all benefited from new technologies in gasoline-powered motor vehicle engines, fuels, and wood heating appliances.
Other factors include, but are not limited to more thorough cleaning of paved roads, using cleaner traction sand and using less of it in favor of chemical liquid deicers. In addition, many of us have learned to “burn cleanly” in our wood stoves and to alter our commute habits to relieve some of the congestion on our roadways.
Air Quality Challenges - Although our air has significantly improved over the past several years, we still have plenty of work to do if we are to continue this progress. As we look ahead, our challenges include:
- Meeting more stringent and health protective air quality standards for fine particulate and ground-level ozone;
- Ensuring that emissions from an expanding fleet of motor vehicles do not overcome the air quality gains of the past;
- Implementing new federal programs to protect the public from toxic air pollutants; and
- Maintaining adequate program funding to meet these other challenges.
Air Toxics - Spokane Clean Air has completed its first air toxics monitoring study. Preliminary results suggest that Spokane's urban air has concentrations of chemicals that may pose a higher health risk to the public than we would like to see.
Air Emissions Inventory - The Washington State Department of Ecology has the most recent "Three Year Comprehensive Air Emissions Inventory" available on their website. If you're interested is detailed information about emissions/pollutants and the sources of pollutants, this is a good report to take a look at. The emissions data is presented in multiple ways: by pollutant, by source and by county. Click here for a link to the Emissions Inventory.
Other air quality information pages:
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