Vermonters reminded to be aware of air quality

BRATTLEBORO -- While Air Quality Awareness Week has passed, sponsors like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Weather Service and state environmental departments remind the public that protecting their health by paying attention to local air quality is a year-round activity.
As the warmer weather approaches, EPA agents are urging New England residents to be aware of the increased risk of ground-level ozone air pollution and fine-particle air pollution. When the two are combined, it is referred to as smog.
"Ground-level ozone and fine particle air pollution are significant public health concerns throughout New England," said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA's New England Office. "To protect your health, New Englanders should pay close attention to air quality warnings, limit their strenuous outdoor activity on air quality alert days, and help take steps to reduce emissions when air quality is unhealthy."
In Vermont, the air quality index has been rated as good throughout the entire week. Generally good air quality is expected for the rest of the weekend as well.
"Air quality is a public health concern, as we saw last year during Memorial Day weekend with the Quebec fires. Some valleys just filled right up," said Benjamin Whitney of the Air Monitoring Section within the Air Pollution Control Division.
While outreach activities in the Green Mountain State currently are limited, the division would like to expand upon them in the future, Whitney said.
"In terms of air awareness, you will see some states have a fully developed program. They will have various walks, health activities and air awareness explaining air quality indexes. We have not taken to doing that yet," he added.
The state has two ozone monitoring sites in Bennington and Underhill, which also have quality monitoring stations. Burlington and Rutland have similar stations as well.
Every afternoon, agents with the division speak with specialists from surrounding states to discuss the air quality forecast.
"They look at the monitoring data, they look at the meteorological data and determine, in the best of their ability, what the air quality is going to be in the upcoming day," Whitney said. "Based upon the pollutant of concern and the level that it is at, they put out a forecast ... the most important thing we can do for the public is make those sites available or at least get them the information."
For more information or to check the air quality index daily, visit www.airnow.gov.
The EPA reports poor air quality is predicted, states will announce an alert for affected regions. The agency recommends citizens in those areas limit rigorous outdoor activity and businesses take actions to reduce air pollution.