News & Notices

Study Links Air Pollution to Emphysema (August 13, 2019) – A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has linked ambient air pollution with emphysema, a disease that had previously been mostly associated with smoking. The study, led by the University of Washington, Columbia University, and the University at Buffalo, examined…

Benefits and Costs of the Clean Air Act Section 812 of the 1990 Amendments (Public Law 101-549) requires EPA conduct scientifically reviewed studies of the impact of the Clean Air Act on the public health, economy and environment of the United States. These studies ask: How do the overall health, welfare, ecological, and economic benefits…

 Spokane-area agencies partnering to promote Wednesday, June 26, as “Smoke Ready Communities Day” Local public agencies are helping to prepare their communities for poor air quality caused by wildfires by declaring June 26 Smoke Ready Communities Day in Spokane County. Smoke Ready Communities Day represents a combined effort among Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency, Spokane…

Yesterday’s wildfire smoke resulted in a 24-hour average, midnight to midnight, of 31.4 micrograms or 92 on the AQI scale.  The federal, health-based standard for fine particles is 35 micrograms per cubic meter of air averaged 24-hours, midnight to midnight (or 100 on the AQI scale). Below is a graph depicting the hourly levels on Current…