AIR PROTECTION BRANCH
2017 Air Quality Report
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report 2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report Last updated: 12/10/18
Ambient Monitoring Program
Informational Publication
This document is published annually by the Ambient Monitoring Program, in the Air Protection Branch of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division.
DISCLAIMER: Any reference to specific brand names is not an endorsement of that brand by the Georgia Environmental
Protection Division.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DIVISION
Air Protection Branch
Ambient Monitoring Program 4244 International Parkway Suite 120 | Atlanta, GA 30354 Web: https://airgeorgia.org/ Phone: 404-363-7000 | 404-363-7100
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Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Air Quality in Georgia : 2017 ........................................................................................................................................................................ 6 Air Monitoring FAQs ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Ambient Monitoring Website.................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Site, Laboratory, and Workshop Tours ...................................................................................................................................................... 12 Community Involvement ............................................................................................................................................................................ 14 Voluntary Emissions Reductions Programs................................................................................................................................................ 15 Emissions Trends in Georgia....................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Georgia's Ambient Air Monitoring Sites .................................................................................................................................................... 20 Criteria Pollutants ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 21
Carbon Monoxide ........................................................................................................................................................................ 22 Oxides of Nitrogen....................................................................................................................................................................... 24 Sulfur Dioxide .............................................................................................................................................................................. 28 Ozone .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 31 Lead ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 35 Particulate Matter ....................................................................................................................................................................... 37 Air Quality Index ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 46 Photochemical Monitoring......................................................................................................................................................................... 49 Carbonyls .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 50 Air Toxics Monitoring ................................................................................................................................................................................. 51 Black Carbon ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 54 Risk Assessment.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 55 Meteorological Report ............................................................................................................................................................................... 61 Quality Assurance/Quality Control ............................................................................................................................................................ 68 Appendix A: 2017 Ambient Monitoring Network Table ............................................................................................................................ 71 Appendix B: Risk Assessment Screening Values ........................................................................................................................................ 73 Appendix C: Meteorological Instruments Used in 2017 ............................................................................................................................ 74 Appendix D: Pollutant Concentrations....................................................................................................................................................... 75
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Introduction
EPD Mission
The Environmental Protection Division (EPD) protects and restores Georgia's environment. We take the lead in ensuring clean air, water, and land. With our partners, we pursue a sustainable environment that provides a foundation for a vibrant economy and healthy communities.
Who We Are
This report is prepared by the Ambient Monitoring Program (AMP), a program of the Air Protection Branch of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD), the State's lead environmental agency and a Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
The Air Protection Branch ensures clean air in Georgia in support of Georgia EPD's mission.
The environmental professionals (scientists, meteorologists, and engineers) who make this report possible make sure Georgia produces air quality data that is accurate, complete, and readily available for public use.
The Air Protection Branch has six programs: 1. Ambient Monitoring 2. Mobile and Area Sources 3. Planning and Support 4. Radioactive Materials 5. Stationary Source Compliance 6. Stationary Source Permitting
What We Do
Monitor air quality in Georgia Forecast air quality for public use Develop plans to maintain or attain the National Ambient
Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) Issue permits to regulated stationary sources (industrial
facilities and power plants) Enforce all state and federal requirements through
compliance activities (inspections) Oversee federally required emission testing on cars
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Air Quality in Georgia: 2017
The Ambient Monitoring Program of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division's Air Protection Branch has been monitoring air quality in the State of Georgia for more than forty years. During that time, the list of monitored compounds has grown to more than 200 pollutants at 41 sites in 29 counties across the state. This monitoring is performed to protect public health and environmental quality. The resulting data is used for a broad range of regulatory and research purposes, as well as to inform the public. This report includes monitoring data from 2017 and shows that the air quality in Georgia has steadily improved over the last few decades.
A lot has changed in 40 years of air quality monitoring.
How are we doing as a state?
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Air Monitoring FAQs
Where are the monitors located?
Over 100 air samplers (called monitors) are located throughout Georgia that measure for nearly 200 air pollutants. These pollutants can be gaseous such as ground-level ozone, or can be very fine particles such as particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), also known as particle pollution.
How are air samples collected?
There are two types of collection methods depending on the pollutant and the monitor: Continuous - The air pollutant is measured continuously and the data is automatically recorded at a
centralized location into a database. Non-Continuous A canister or filter is used to collect the air pollutant over a period of time (8-hr,
24-hr). A technician collects the canister or filters over a specified amount of time and takes them to an approved laboratory for analysis.
How do we know the air quality data is accurate?
Both the continuous and non-continuous data are screened for errors by validation specialists. When the data is certified as valid, it can be reported to the public and used to compare to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, and to previous years' data for trend information. The validated data is also used by scientists and policy makers. Validated data is used to prepare publications such as the Annual Reports and EPD's Annual Network Plan. Non-Validated data includes hourly data from continuous monitors published as the Air Quality Index (AQI) on the Georgia
Air Monitoring website (https://airgeorgia.org/) and AirNow, a national air quality database.
What is the Air Quality Index (AQI)?
The Air Quality Index, or AQI, is a color coded indicator of what the air quality is like taking into consideration measurements of multiple pollutants including ozone, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide.
What is the air quality like where I am?
Real time, hourly, air quality data for your area is available on the Georgia Air Monitoring Website at https://airgeorgia.org/. Georgia's air quality data is also uploaded to a national air quality information database called AirNow (https://airnow.gov) and available to the public in real time.
Why don't we have monitoring everywhere?
The number of monitoring sites and their location can vary from year to year depending on the availability of long-term space allocation, regulatory needs, and funding. The cost associated with establishing and running a monitoring station is significant. It involves maintaining equipment and collecting samples to produce quality data for public use. EPD does not own land at any of its ambient air monitoring stations, we are always either a guest or a leaseholder. Each monitoring station must meet federal siting criteria set by EPA and be approved by the landowner. Before deciding to establish a new monitoring station, EPD has to consider regulatory needs, funding limitations, and finding an appropriate location where a long-term arrangement is possible. If EPD determines a change is needed, EPA has to review and approve the changes before the changes can happen.
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Air Quality FAQs
What are National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)?
Under the Clean Air Act, EPA is required to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (40 CFR part 50) for air pollutants that may be harmful to public health and the environment. There are two types of National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Primary standards protect public health, including protecting populations considered "sensitive," such as children, the elderly, and asthmatics. Secondary standards protect public welfare, including protection against damage to animals, crops, vegetation, and buildings, and decreased visibility in national parks and protected areas. The EPA has set National Ambient Air Quality Standards for six pollutants, called "criteria" air pollutants. These standards are periodically reviewed, as required by the Clean Air Act, and revised, as appropriate.
What is `attainment?'
With the criteria pollutants, a geographic area that meets or does better than the national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) is called an attainment area. An area that does not meet this standard is called a nonattainment area. (www.epa.gov)
Where do we get emission inventory?
The National Emissions Inventory (NEI) is a detailed estimate of air emissions that include criteria pollutants and hazardous air pollutants. It is released every three years and it is based on data provided by the State, Local and Tribal Agencies.
Examples of Air Monitors in Georgia
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Communication and Partnerships
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Georgia EPD's Ambient Air Monitoring Website Air Quality Forecast Site Information Links to Annual Reports Trends in Georgia's Air Pollutant Information
And So Much More...
Visit us at https://airgeorgia.org/
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Social Media Georgia Climate Office
https://www.facebook.com/georgiaclimate/
https://twitter.com/gaclimateoffice
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Working Together
Field and laboratory personnel involved in producing ambient air quality data took tours to see how the whole process works together to prepare the data for the public.
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New Workshop
GA AMP has expanded its monitoring program over the years, and it was time for a bigger workshop and training area.
Monitoring Equipment
The workshop houses spare equipment and provides space to prepare for field collection and to learn new sampling techniques.
Workshop Tour
Open House and tour of the new workshop. Director's Office and many personnel in the Air Branch came to check it out.
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Reaching out into the Community
Educating school children and incorporating air quality information into the classroom-learning environment is an outreach strategy for the GA EPD Ambient Monitoring Program (AMP). AMP staff visit Georgia classrooms to discuss air quality, forecasting, and monitoring. Each program presented by the AMP is designed to supplement grade-specific curricula. Learning opportunities include meteorological lessons and forecasting techniques, among other relevant topics. In many situations, these lessons involve hands-on activities and mini-field trips to the monitoring sites. High School students simulate forecasting conditions and use scientific methods to create their own forecasts. AMP staff also participate in Career Days at both elementary and high schools to promote environmental and meteorological careers.
GA EPD air quality forecasters presenting information at air quality conferences.
AMP hosts an annual Air Quality Seminar and Air Monitoring Station fieldtrip for college interns in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Environmental Health Summer Intern Program, thereby reaching top college students from all over the country.
Air Quality specialists from Korea come to learn about GA EPD's Ambient Monitoring Program.
GA EPD Ambient Air Monitoring and air quality forecasting highlighted on WABE 90.1 radio.
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Voluntary Emissions Reductions Programs GA EPD Partners
Encouraging fewer vehicles on the road...
http://gacommuteoptions.com/
Sponsored by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC).
Distributes daily ozone forecasts (as well as PM2.5 forecasts produced by EPD and Georgia Tech) during the ozone season to enable citizens in the sensitive group category, as well as industries, to alter activities on days that are forecasted to have high ozone levels.
Forecasts for the Atlanta metropolitan area.
Rewards commuters for trying an alternative to driving alone to and from work (e.g. carpooling or trying transit).
With a focus on reducing all sources of diesel emissions in Georgia, the GADER program not only encompasses the Georgia School Bus Retrofit initiative, but also assists with funding, and education assistance and outreach for voluntary measures such as idling reduction, Truck Stop Electrification, the use of cleaner fuels, and diesel emissions controls to rail yards, long haul and delivery truck fleets, construction equipment, and more.
Helping schools afford cleaner school buses...
Older diesel school buses are replaced early, and the newer buses come equipped with an emissions control device to reduce emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOX).
Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) is an emissions reduction technology used in diesel engines to convert NOX pollution into harmless atmospheric nitrogen and water. The technology is enhanced when the engines run on low sulfur diesel fuel, the dominant fuel today.
Diesel powered commercial trucks can add particulate trap filters to capture particulate matter pollution exhausted from their engines.
Encouraging the use of alternative fuels...
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Helping promote Truck Stop Electrification Stations...
Diesel powered commercial trucks can produce emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOX) due to idling. Truck drivers are typically required to rest 8 hours for every 10 hours of travel time and their diesel engines are often idled during rest times to power air conditioning and heating systems.
Truck stop electrification allows truck drivers to run their air conditioning, heating, electronic devices without having to run their diesel powered engines.
Cool and warm air can be pumped into the trucks via a hose hookup at the electrified truck stops.
Working to reduce locomotive and rail yard emissions...
Locomotives can be retrofitted with cleaner engines and technology that helps improve air quality.
Smaller, more efficient modular diesel engines reduce emissions.
1 "genset" conversion was completed. The genset with Tier 4 engines utilize two or more smaller engines that can combine to equal the horsepower of the older engine.
Automatic engine start/stop technology reduces idling.
9 conversion were completed that use in-cylinder strategies including better fuel injection timing, and better rings and oil separators.
`Mother'-`Slug' sets operate in tandem. A Mother is diesel powered and provides excess electrical power to drive a Slug's traction motors, saving fuel and reducing air pollution.
26 locomotives have been converted to 13 MotherSlug sets in Georgia as of July 2017.
Electric plugin stations allow the diesel engine to be shut down when temperatures drop below freezing by maintaining the water temperature above freezing.
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Air Quality in Georgia
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Pollutants of Concern and Their Sources in Georgia
The list below shows the most common air pollutants in Georgia and their source by percentage. Mobile sources, including on-road vehicles, construction equipment and aircraft, contribute greatly to pollution in Georgia, especially around densely populated cities like in the Atlanta Metro area.
Particulate matter 2.5 PM2.5
47%
Particulate matter 10 PM10
79%
Volatile organic compounds VOCs
84%
Sulfur dioxide SO2
33%
12%
3%
3%
2%
1%
12%
5%
2%
1%
1%
4%
4%
2%
2%
1%
1%
Nitrogen oxides NOx
64%
27%
4%
2%
1%
1%
Carbon monoxide CO
49%
16%
14%
10%
5%
4%
2%
Lead Pb
39%
19%
17%
11%
9%
4%
69%
23%
4%
4%
*CO is more of a concern for indoor air quality than it is for outdoor air quality. Key:
On-road Mobile
Non-road Mobile
Stationary/ Fuel
Prescribed
Other Combustion (EGU) Fire
Wildfires Miscellaneous Biogenics Solvent
Figure 1: Pollutants of Concern and Their Sources in Georgia
Source: 2014v2 National Emissions Inventory
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Emissions Trends in Georgia
The sources of pollutants seen on the previous page were assembled into seven categories for the following graphs. The major contributors for CO and NOx are highway vehicles, while the largest contributors of SO2 are electric utilities. Wildland and prescribed fires can have a large impact on PM2.5 emissions, and VOCs come from a variety of stationary sources. There is a downward trend shown here for all emissions from 2010 through 2017. In 2011, there was a wildfire in the Okefenokee Swamp area that showed an uptick in the data for that year.
Georgia's air quality is improving...
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Figure 2: Emissions Trends in Georgia
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Georgia's Ambient Air Monitoring Sites
Figure 3. Georgia's ambient air monitoring sites For more detailed site information, see page 71.
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Criteria Pollutants (six most common regulated pollutants)
The Clean Air Act (CAA) requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to identify pollutants that may endanger public health or welfare. Under the CAA, the EPA sets National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for six common air pollutants, also referred to as "criteria" pollutants based on the current science regarding their known health effects. The NAAQS are divided into primary standards that protect public health and secondary standards that protect the public welfare and environment. EPA reviews the NAAQS periodically, based on new findings about the health effects of air pollution. For more information about the NAAQS, please refer to EPA's website (https://www.epa.gov/criteria-air-pollutants/naaqs-table).
NAAQS have been established for six common air pollutants called criteria pollutants:
Carbon Monoxide (CO) Oxides of Nitrogen (NO2) Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Ozone (O3) Lead (Pb) Particulate Matter (PM)
We monitor for these criteria pollutants and much more. Our monitoring network takes the guess work out of knowing what pollutants are in the air you breathe.
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Carbon Monoxide (CO)
What is it?
Carbon Monoxide is an odorless, colorless, and poisonous gas that is a by-product of incomplete burning. Learn more: https://www.epa.gov/co-pollution
Where does it come from?
Carbon and oxygen can combine to form two different gases. When combustion of carbon is complete, in the presence of plenty of air, the product is mainly carbon dioxide (CO2). Sources of carbon include; coal, coke, charcoal. When combustion of carbon is incomplete, i.e. there is a limited supply of air, only half as much oxygen adds to the carbon, and instead you form carbon monoxide (CO).
In Georgia, 56% of the carbon monoxide comes from mobile sources including cars, construction equipment, aircraft, locomotives, and on the coast commercial marine vessels.
Health Impacts
Increased risk of lower blood flow, anemia, and reduced heart activity.
Sensitive groups include fetuses, young infants, pregnant women, elderly people, and individuals with anemia or emphysema.
Georgia Monitoring Information for CO
Measurement Technique
Measured continuously with infrared light1
Figure 4. Georgia carbon monoxide monitoring sites
More information about measurement technique
1 https://www.thermofisher.com/order/catalog/ product/48I
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National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Carbon Monoxide
Primary NAAQS: Secondary NAAQS:
8-hour average not to exceed 9 ppm more than once per year 1-hour average not to exceed 35 ppm more than once per year None
Attainment Designation
All of Georgia is in attainment of both the 8-hour and 1-hour standards for carbon monoxide. Figure 5 and Figure 6 show how Georgia's CO compares to the two NAAQS.
Figure 5. Carbon monoxide annual maximum 1-hour average compared to the 1-hour standard
Figure 6. Carbon monoxide annual 8-hour average compared to the 8-hour standard
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Oxides of Nitrogen (NO, NO2, NOx and NOY)
What is it?
Oxides of nitrogen are a mixture of gases that are composed of nitrogen and oxygen and primarily produced during combustion. Learn more: https://www.epa.gov/no2-pollution
Where does it come from?
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are usually products of combustion from mobile sources such as vehicle engines and construction equipment engines. They also come from large industrial boilers, turbines, and kilns, as well as fires. In Georgia, 49% of NOx comes from vehicles.
NO2 is formed from the oxidation of nitric oxide (NO). NOY consists of all atmospheric reactive nitrogen oxide
compounds.
Health Impacts
Increases risk of respiratory infections, respiratory diseases and asthma
Source: http://www.compoundchem.com/2015/09/30/vehicle-emissions/
Georgia Monitoring Information for Oxides of Nitrogen
Measurement Techniques
Mmeetahsoudre2dancdonatipnhuootuoslylytiwc mithetahocdhe3 miluminescent
Figure 7. Georgia's NO/NO2/NOx monitoring sites (green circles) and NOY site (red square)
more information about measurement technique 2 https://www.thermofisher.com/order/catalog/product/42I
3 http://www.teledyne-api.com/products/nitrogen-compound -instruments/t200up?SortField=Title&SortDir=Desc&View=% 7B42F03482-B71F-4F84-BDA7-DE93805FDA4B%7D
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NOx Daily Cycle
NOx reacts with volatile organic compounds in the presence of sunlight to form ground level ozone (O3) pollution which causes NOx levels to drop in the middle of a sunny day and increase at night on a daily basis.
(Courtesy of Jamie Smith)
Because this pattern typically reoccurs each day within a 24-hour period, this is known as a diurnal cycle. The following graph shows a comparison of the daily average of hourly NO2 data at the near-road sites, NR-285 and NR-Georgia Tech, compared to the South DeKalb NO2 site. The two near-road sites (shown in green and red) display the highest daily averages. The cyclical diurnal pattern of lower concentrations mid-day and higher concentrations in evening is shown below.
South DeKalb
NR-285
NR-GA Tech
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Figure 8. Diurnal Pattern of NO2 25
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Reducing NOx Emissions in Georgia
Ozone formation in the southeastern United States is driven by emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in large urban areas with high vehicle traffic. Therefore, Georgia has focused efforts on reducing the emissions of NOx, particularly in the Atlanta ozone nonattainment area. Our vehicle emissions inspection program, also known as Georgia's Clean Air Force, which covers the counties of Cherokee,
Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding, and Rockdale, helps reduce NOx, the main precursor to ozone.
A series of Georgia air quality rules were implemented in 1999 through 2014 specifically targeting NOx emissions from combustion sources such as industrial boilers and electric steam generating units at power plants, especially large coal-fired units. Figure 9 shows how NOX pollution in Georgia declined as NOx controls were implemented at large stationary sources from 1999 through 2014. The Georgia multi-pollutant rule, implemented 2008-2014, required additional NOx reductions at power plants in addition to reductions in mercury and sulfur dioxide emissions. During the same time, national manufacturing standards required greater efficiency and performance from engines in vehicles, construction equipment, and generators which also helped reduce NOX emissions nationwide, including Georgia.
Figure 9. Implementation of NOx Controls
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*Multi-pollutant Rule is discussed on page 27. Ambient Monitoring Program
National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Nitrogen Dioxide
Primary NAAQS:
Annual mean must not exceed 53 ppb 3-year average of the 98th percentile of daily maximum one-hour averages
must not exceed 100 ppb
Secondary NAAQS:
Annual mean must not exceed 53 ppb
Attainment Designation
NO2 monitoring is required in urban areas with populations exceeding one million. The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is the only urban area in Georgia required to perform NO2 monitoring.
Figure 10 shows Georgia's annual average NO2 concentrations from 2000 to 2017. Annual average concentrations are well below the standard of 53 ppb.
EPD operates two near-road monitoring sites (Georgia Tech and NR-285) to study the effects of traffic pollution. Figure 11 indicates that Georgia's 1-hour design values are well below the 100 ppb national standard.
Figure 10. Nitrogen dioxide annual averages compared to the annual standard
Figure 11. Nitrogen dioxide 1-hour design values compared to the 1-hour standard
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Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
What is it?
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a colorless reactive gas that is formed by burning sulfur-containing material, such as coal or diesel fuel, or by processing sulfur-containing clays. Learn more: https://www.epa.gov/so2-pollution
Where does it come from?
64% of SO2 emissions in Georgia come from electric generation and large industrial boilers. SO2 can be oxidized in the atmosphere into sulfuric acid, and form acid rain. Sulfur is oxidized to form SO2 during combustion. SO2 then can react with other pollutants to form aerosols, which
are solid or liquid particles in a gas. SO2 can also form sulfate particles, that contribute to the formation of fine particulate matter (PM2.5). In liquid form, SO2 may be found in clouds, fog, rain, aerosol particles, and in surface liquid films on these particles.
Environmental Impacts
Both SO2 and NO2 can form acid rain that lead to acidic deposition3.
Health Impacts
SO2 can impair respiratory function, increase respiratory disease, and reduce lung's ability to clear foreign particles especially in sensitive groups like children, the elderly, and individuals with asthma, hyperactive airways, and cardiovascular disease.
Short-term peak exposures can cause significant constriction of air passages in sensitive asthmatics, wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing in these sensitive groups, and affect ability to perform exercise.
Georgia Monitoring Information for Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
Measurement Technique
Continuous ultraviolet fluorescence4
more information about measurement technique 4 https://www.thermofisher.com/order/catalog/ product/43I
Figure 12. Georgia's sulfur dioxide monitoring sites
3Acid deposition causes damage to forests, man-made structures, and streams and lakes, which can be deadly for aquatic wildlife.
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Reducing SO2 in Georgia
Georgia's Multi-Pollutant Rule
In 2007, Georgia implemented State Rule 391-3-1-.02(2)(sss), which affects the 13-county Atlanta nonattainment area plus surrounding counties.
This multi-pollutant control measure for electric steam generating units at electric utilities required coal fired power plants to install controls to reduce three criteria pollutants, PM, NOx, and SO2, and had rolling start dates between 2008 and 2014.
The controls are called Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) for NOx and Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) for SO2 and PM. Figure 13 shows the decrease in SO2 concentrations as these controls have been implemented across the state.
Figure 13. Implementation of SO2 Controls
SO2 and PM Figure 14. Schematic design of the absorber of an FGD
Statewide SO2 Concentration Comparison from 2005 to 2014
Figure 15 compares the concentrations of sulfur dioxide from 2005-2007 and 2011-2014 in Georgia on a scale of 0 to 1 in Dobson units (DU)5.
These maps were created by NASA using satellite data and depict multi-year averages of sulfur dioxide concentrations over the eastern United States.
According to analyses of satellite data, in the eastern U.S., levels of sulfur dioxide have dropped by about 80 percent between 2005 and 2014.
2005-2007
2011-2014
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=87182
5A Dobson unit (DU) is a measurement of density of a gas in a column of the Earth's atmosphere.
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Figure 15.
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National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Sulfur Dioxide
Primary NAAQS:
3-year average of 99th percentile of the daily maximum 1-hour concentration not to exceed 75 ppb
Secondary NAAQS:
3-hour concentrations not to exceed 0.5 ppm (500 ppb) more than once per year
Attainment Designation
EPA strengthened the SO2 primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) in 2010 and has developed a 4-phase process for designations. Please refer to EPA's information on the SO2 data requirement rules for more details6.
All the SO2 design7 values, for 2015-2017 in Georgia, were below the 1-hour standard, with the highest design value occurring at the Augusta site (52 ppb).
*combined sites Figure 16. SO2 three-year averages of the 99th percentile of annual daily max 1-hour averages
6https://www.epa.gov/so2-pollution/final-data-requirements-rule-2010-1-hour-sulfur-dioxide-so2-primary-national-ambient 7Three-year average of the 99th percentile of annual daily maximum 1-hour averages
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Ozone (O3)
What is it?
Ozone is a form of oxygen. But unlike oxygen (O2), ozone (O3) is not a stable gas. Ozone is highly reactive and unstable corrosive and capable of damaging living cells. Ground-level ozone can be harmful at high concentrations and is a regulated pollutant. NOTE: Ozone occurs naturally in the Earth's upper atmosphere (stratosphere) where it protects life on Earth from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. This is the good ozone. "Good Up High, Bad Nearby." Learn more: https://www.epa.gov/ozone-pollution
Where does it come from?
Ground-level ozone is not emitted directly into the air, but is created by chemical reactions between nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the presence of sunlight. Major sources of NOx include emissions from industrial facilities, electric utilities and motor vehicle exhaust. In Georgia, the major sources of VOC are natural sources such as trees and vegetation. Other VOC sources include gasoline vapors and chemical solvents.
(Courtesy of Jamie Smith) Figure 17. Ozone formation process
Health Impacts
Ozone can irritate the mucous membranes of the nose, throat, and airways which can lead to coughing and chest pain. It can increase risk of respiratory infections in people with asthma and respiratory disease. Ozone reduces the ability to perform physical exercise by impairing normal lung function. Repeated exposure may cause permanent scarring of lung tissue.
Georgia Monitoring Information for Ozone
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Measurement Technique
Continuous ultraviolet photometric method8
More information about measurement technique 8 https://www.thermofisher.com/order/catalog/product/49I
Figure 18. Georgia's ozone monitoring sites
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EPA's CASTNET Site
As part of the Clean Air Status and Trends Network (CASTNET), EPA established a monitoring site in Pike County, Georgia in 1988. The CASTNET site is part of a national air quality monitoring network put in place to assess long-term trends in atmospheric deposition and ecological effects of air pollutants. The CASTNET site is one of 95 regional sites across rural areas of the United States and Canada measuring nitrogen, sulfur, and ozone concentrations, and deposition of sulfur and nitrogen. Like the South DeKalb ozone monitor, the CASTNET ozone monitor also collects data year-round. https://www.epa.gov/castnet
More Information about Ground Level Ozone
Ground level ozone formation occurs through a complex series of photochemical reactions that take place in the presence of sunlight, causing a diurnal pattern (high ozone during the day, low ozone at night, see Figure 19).
Figure 19. Typical urban 1-hour ozone diurnal pattern
The photochemical reactions require a reaction between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Since there will always be strong sunshine in the summer, and the naturally-occurring (or biogenic) levels of VOCs in Georgia are high, the most effective way to control ozone production in Georgia is to reduce emissions of NOx in the summer.
Examples of the most common reactive VOCs that contribute to ozone formation are: hydrocarbons found in automobile exhaust (benzene, propane, toluene); vapors from cleaning solvents (toluene); and biogenic emissions from plants and trees (isoprene). In Georgia, biogenic emissions account for 84% VOCs.
With the exception of the South DeKalb and CASTNET sites, ozone in Georgia, unlike other pollutants previously discussed, is monitored March through October, complying with federal monitoring regulations (in 40CFR Part 58).
Ozone is prevalent in urban areas in the summer but can appear in other areas due to weather patterns that can move air or many hundreds of miles.
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Primary NAAQS: Secondary NAAQS:
National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone
3-year average of 4th highest daily maximum 8-hr concentration not to exceed 0.070 ppm
Same as the Primary Standards
Attainment Designation
Ozone monitoring has been in place in the Atlanta area since the 1970's.
Currently the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell MSA ozone network includes ten monitors located in ten counties.
On March 27, 2008 the ozone primary standard level was lowered to 0.075 ppm for the 8hour averaging time, fourth maximum value, averaged over three years (Federal Register, Vol. 73, No. 60, page 16436).
With the implementation of this ozone standard, the boundary of the Atlanta nonattainment area was defined as a 15-county area.
With the 2013-2015 ozone data, the entire state of Georgia (including Atlanta) met the 2008 ozone standard of 0.075 ppm for ozone.
Figure 20. Georgia's 8-hour ozone nonattainment area (NAA) map for the 2015 standard
Georgia was redesignated to attainment of the 2008 standard on May 22, 2017.
On October 1, 2015, EPA lowered the ozone standard to 0.070 ppm9.
Then for this 2015 standard, and with the 2014-2016 data, the Atlanta area was redesignated to include only a 7 -county area for the nonattainment area (Figure 20) (Federal Register, Vol. 83, No. 107, page 25776).
A violation of the standard is determined by using an 8-hour average of the fourth maximum daily value, averaged over three years. There has been a gradual reduction in the number of days exceeding the ozone standards (Figure 21).
Figure 21. Ozone design values for Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell MSA
9https://www.epa.gov/ozone-pollution/2015-revision-2008-ozone-national-ambient-air-quality-standards-naaqs-supporting
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Ambient Monitoring Program
8-hour ozone exceedances in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell MSA
In 2017, the Atlanta-Sandy SpringsRoswell MSA area had a total of 11 days that exceeded the current (0.070 ppm) 8-hour standard. This was a significant decrease from 2016, which had 29 days. 2016 was one of the hottest and driest summers on record for Georgia.
The term `exceedance' is defined as a daily maximum 8-hour average greater than the standard. The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell MSA ozone monitors which exceeded the 8-hour ozone standard (0.070 ppm) in 2017 are mapped in Figure 22.
National 8-hour ozone concentrations
Figure 23 was taken from EPA's "Our
Nation's Air- Status and Trends through
2015"
(https://gispub.epa.gov/air/
trendsreport/2016/). It shows the fourth
maximum reading for the 8-hour ozone
readings across the United States. Georgia's
fourth maximum ozone readings in 2015
were in the 0.055-0.07 ppm (light blue) and
0.07-0.085 ppm (green) ranges.
Figure 22.
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report
Figure 23.
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Ambient Monitoring Program
Lead (Pb)
What is it?
Lead is a naturally occurring element found in small amounts in the earth's crust. While it has some beneficial uses, it can be toxic to humans and animals causing detrimental health effects. Learn more: https://www.epa.gov/lead
Where does it come from?
In the past, the Clean Air Act required extensive lead monitoring to detect the high levels of airborne lead that resulted from the use of leaded gasoline. With the phase-out of leaded gasoline, lead concentrations decreased drastically by the late 1980s. Figure 24 shows the drop in annual averages from 1990 through 2017.
A major source of lead is acid battery plants. Lead can also come from the dust of vehicle traffic, construction activities, and agricultural activities and deposit on leaves and plants.
Figure 24.
Health Impacts
Exposure mainly through inhalation and ingestion of lead in food, water, soil, or dust. Puts children at particular risk exposure since they commonly put hands, toys, and other items in their mouths, which
may come in contact with lead-containing dust and dirt. Bioaccumulates in blood, bones, and tissues. Can damage kidneys, liver, and nervous system. Excessive and repeated exposure leads to neurological impairments that can cause seizures, mental retardation, and
behavioral disorders especially in children, infants, and fetuses. Lead toxicity is rarely attributed to a single exposure or digestive event, it is the product of chronic exposure over
time. May be a factor in high blood pressure and subsequent heart disease.
Georgia Monitoring Information for Lead
Figure 25. Georgia's lead monitoring sites
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Measurement Technique
24-hour total suspended particulate (100 microns or less) on 8"x10" pre-weighed fiberglass filter10 more information about measurement technique
10 https://tisch-env.com/high-volume-air-samplers/
Ambient Monitoring Program
National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Lead
Primary NAAQS:
Rolling 3-month average, not to exceed 0.15 ug/m3
Secondary NAAQS:
Same as the Primary Standards
Attainment Designation
Figure 26 shows how Georgia's lead data compares to the rolling three-month average standard for 2012 through 2017.
The last of the three months used for each average is indicated on the graph.
The monitors in the Columbus GA-AL MSA are located near a lead battery manufacturer, and in November 2016, there was a violation of the lead standard in Columbus due to a malfunction on a silo control and is reflected in the graph below.
Figure 26. Georgia's three-month rolling averages, 2012-2017
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Ambient Monitoring Program
Particulate Matter PM10 and PM2.5
Learn more: https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution
Particulate matter includes a broad range of material that Ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel is one fuel that emits less sulfur
consists of solid particles, fine liquid droplets, or condensed dioxide, a source of particulate matter formation.
liquids absorbed onto solid particles.
Biodiesel fuel emits less particulate matter, carbon
Airborne particulates are not a single pollutant as discussed monoxide, hydrocarbons, and air toxics.
for the other criteria pollutants, but rather a mixture of many different air pollutants.
Also, emulsified diesel emits less nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.
There are two ways that particulate known as primary and secondary.
matter
is
formed,
Particulate pollution may be categorized by size since there are different health impacts associated with the different
Primary sources that emit particles directly include sizes of particulate matter.
combustion, incineration, construction, mining, smelting, metal processing, and grinding sources.
metals
We currently monitor for three sizes of particles: PM10 (up to 10 microns in diameter), PM2.5 (up to 2.5 microns in
Other primary sources include diesel engine exhaust, road
diameter) and PMcoarse (PM10 minus PM2.5). To illustrate the
dust, wind blown soil, forest fires, open burning of size differences, Figure 27 shows how approximately ten
vegetation for land clearing or waste removal, ocean spray,
PM10 particles can fit on a cross section of a human hair, and
and volcanic activity.
approximately thirty PM2.5 particles would fit on a cross
A great deal of particulate matter is in form of gaseous air
section of a hair.
pollutants that readily react with oxygen and each other. These particles and droplets are invisible to the naked eye,
While many of those reactions produce other gases, they and composition and sources can vary greatly by region.
frequently produce particles. Particles formed through this process are known as secondary particulate matter such as
sulfate particles, nitrate particles, and calcium nitrate or
sodium nitrate particulates.
Regional relative humidity can affect the level of water present within the particles and affect how much dissolved gases or reactive species enter the lungs when particles are inhaled.
Alternative diesel fuels are available that emit less
particulate matter, as well as other pollutants.
Figure 27. Comparison of particulate matter size to human hair
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Ambient Monitoring Program
PM10
What is it?
PM10 are dust particles that are up to 10 micrometers in diameter.
Where does it come from?
Sources include crushing or grinding operations and dust stirred up by vehicles on roads.
Health Impacts
Penetrate deeply into the lungs. Breathing and respiratory problems, aggravation of existing respiratory and cardiovascular disease, alterations in the
body's defense system against inhaled materials and organisms, and damage to lung tissue. Individuals with chronic lung or cardiovascular disease, individuals with influenza, asthmatics, elderly people, and
children are most effected.
Georgia Monitoring Information for PM10
Figure 28. Georgia's PM10 and PMcoarse (red square) monitoring sites
Measurement Techniques
Four types of EPA-approved reference or equivalent monitors used to determine attainment with the PM10 standard:
Integrated low-volume monitor that collects a 24-hour sample through an impaction inlet device that only allows particles with 10 microns or less in size to reach the filter media.11
Continuous beta ray attenuation monitor, Teledyne T640X monitor, tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) method with an inlets designed to cut out particles larger than 10 microns in size.12,13,14
more information about measurement techniques 11 https://tisch-env.com/low-volume-air-sampler/ 12 http://metone.com/air-quality-particulate-monitors/regulatory/bam-1020/ 13 http://www.teledyne-api.com/products/particulate-instruments/t640 14 https://www.thermofisher.com/order/catalog/product/1400AB
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Ambient Monitoring Program
National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter PM10
Primary NAAQS:
Number of days with a maximum of 24-hour concentration of 150 g/m3
must not exceed more than once per year on average over 3 years
Secondary NAAQS:
Same as the Primary Standards
Attainment Designation
Figure 29 shows how Georgia compares to the 24-hour standard for PM10, which is 150 g/m3.
The standard allows one exceedance per year, averaged over a 3-year period; therefore, this chart shows the second highest 24-hour average for each site. All three samplers collected data well below the standard.
Note: A house fire nearby the Augusta site caused values to be higher than normal. In addition, the sampler at this site began collecting hourly data.
Figure 29. PM10 annual second maximum 24-hour concentrations
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Ambient Monitoring Program
PM2.5
What is it?
PM2.5 are particles that are 2.5 micrometers in diameter or smaller, and can only be seen with an electron microscope. Most particles form in the atmosphere as a result of complex reactions of chemicals such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
Where does it come from?
Fine particles are produced from dust and all types of combustion, including motor vehicles, power plants, residential wood burning, forest fires, agricultural burning, and some industrial processes.
Health Impacts
Can penetrate deep into lung tissue and even enter the bloodstream. This may cause significant respiratory or cardiovascular problems that can shorten an individual's lifespan.
High risk groups include children, the elderly, and people with cardiovascular or lung diseases such as emphysema and asthma.
Georgia Monitoring Information for PM2.5
Measurement Techniques
Two types of methods: integrated and continuous. The integrated samplers are the official reference method (FRM) used for determining which areas in Georgia are
attainment (meeting the national standard). Integrated samplers collect samples on Teflon filters for 24 hours, using a 2.5 microns particle size sorting device.15 The continuous method consists of three types of instruments. The beta attenuation method (BAM) is designed for the inlet to cut out particles larger than 2.5 microns in size.
EPD has two sites where BAM samplers are running as Federal Equivalent Method (FEM) samplers that can be used for attainment determinations as well: South DeKalb and Albany.16 The tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) method is used to support the development of air quality models and forecasts, including the Air Quality Index (AQI), and provide the public with information about pollutant concentrations in real time. As set up at EPD's sites, these samplers cannot be used for making attainment determinations.17 The Teledyne T640 is an optical aerosol spectrometer that converts optical measurements to mass measurements by determining sampled particle size via scattered light using 90 white-light scattering with polychromatic LED.18 These samplers are also FEMs and collect data that can be used for attainment determinations. Continuous PM2.5 data is reported every hour on Georgia's Ambient Air Monitoring web page located at https:// airgeorgia.org/. The immediate availability of this data allows the public to make informed decisions regarding their outdoor activities.
more information about measurement techniques
15https://www.thermofisher.com/order/catalog/product/2025I 16http://www.metone.com/products/air-quality-monitors/ 17https://www.thermofisher.com/order/catalog/ 18http://www.teledyne-api.com/products/particulateinstruments/t640
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Ambient Monitoring Program
Figure 30 shows the location of Georgia's PM2.5 FRM monitors and Figure 31 shows the location of PM2.5 continuous and speciation monitors.
Figure 30. Georgia's PM2.5 FRM monitoring sites
Figure 31. Georgia's PM2.5 continuous (green circles) and PM2.5 speciation (red squares) monitoring sites
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Reducing PM2.5 Emissions in Georgia
PM Controls
Georgia's Multi-Pollutant Rule
In 2007, Georgia implemented State Rule 391-3-1-.02(2)(sss), which affects the 13-county Atlanta nonattainment areas plus surrounding counties.
This multi-pollutant control measure that affected electric steam generating units at electric utilities required coal fired power plants to install controls to reduce three criteria pollutants, PM, NOx, and SO2, and had rolling start dates between 2008 and 2014.
The controls that were added are called Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) for NOx and Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) for SO2 and PM.
Figure 32 shows the decrease in PM2.5 concentrations as these controls were implemented across the state.
SO2 and PM
Schematic design of the absorber of an FGD
Figure 32: Implementation of PM Controls
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Ambient Monitoring Program
National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter PM2.5
Primary NAAQS:
3-year average of the annual weighted mean not to exceed 12.0 g/m3
3-year average of the 98th percentile of 24-hour concentration not to exceed 35 g/m3
Secondary NAAQS:
3-year average of the annual weighted mean not to exceed 15.0 g/m3
3-year average of the 98th percentile of 24-hour concentration not to exceed 35 g/m3
Attainment Designation
For an area to concentrations
be in has to
attainment of the annual ambient air be less than or equal to 12.0 g/m3.
PM2.5
standard,
the
three-year
average
of
the
annual
average
In addition, the 24-hour primary and secondary standard requires that the three-year average of the 98th percentile of the 24hour concentrations be less than or equal to 35 micrograms per cubic meter.
Currently all areas of Georgia are designated unclassifiable/attainment for the 2012 annual PM2.5 standard because they are meeting the national standard.
Figure 33. Comparison of the threeyear averages of the 98th percentile of
PM2.5 24-hour data
Note: Wildfires and prescribed fires in the Columbus, GA-AL MSA caused values to be higher than
normally observed in this area.
Figure 34. Comparison of the PM2.5 threeyear annual averages to the annual standard
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Ambient Monitoring Program
PM2.5 Speciation
Particle speciation measurements are performed to support the regulatory, analytical, and public health purposes of the program. These measurements help scientists and regulators track the progress and effectiveness of newly implemented pollution controls. The data also improves scientific understanding of the relationship between particle composition, visibility impairment, and adverse human health effects.
Each individual particle, regardless of its source, has a distinct chemical composition which depends on local sources and a variety of other factors. Each has varying health effects based on its size and chemical composition.
Georgia currently monitors fifty-three species in particulate matter. Of these, sulfate and organic carbon are detected in the highest concentrations, with magnitudes of up to five to nine times greater than the other major species.
Refer to Figure 31 for a map of Georgia's PM2.5 Speciation monitors.
Figure 38 compares the percent composition of PM2.5 for each site based on 2017 annual averages.
Organic carbon makes up 4457% of PM2.5 for all sites with Columbus having the largest percentage.
Sulfate is the second largest portion of PM2.5 for all sites and ranges from 16-23%.
Nitrate, crustal, elemental carbon, and ammonium ion make up no more than 13% of PM2.5 for all sites.
The chemical elements typical of the Earth's crust are grouped together as "crustal".
Figure 38. Percentages of 2017 Speciation Data
Measurement Techniques19,20
Filter media with laboratory techniques using gravimetric (microweighing) analysis
X-ray fluorescence and particle-induced X-ray emission for trace elements; Ion chromatography for anions and selected cations
Controlled combustion for carbon Gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) for semi-
volatile organic particles
more information about measurement techniques 19http://www.urgcorp.com/index.php/systems/manual-sampling-systems/urg3000n-carbon-sampler 20http://www.metone.com/?wpfb_dl=228
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Ambient Monitoring Program
Rossville
PREDOMINANT SPECIES FOUND IN PM2.5
Rome
South DeKalb
Columbus
Macon
Augusta
General Coffee
Figure 39 presents each site with all species making up the composition at each location.
Ammonium Ion Sulfate Products
Nitrate Products Crustal Products Elemental Carbon Organic Carbon
Figure 39. Annual averages of PM2.5 composition data in Georgia
Ammonium Ion: commonly released by fertilizer production, livestock production, coke production, and some large
refrigeration systems. Ironically, it can be emitted by NOx control systems installed on large fossil fuel combustion systems, which use ammonia or urea as a reactant.
Sulfate Products: formed during the oxidation of SO2 in the atmosphere.
Nitrate Products: formed through a complex series of reactions that convert NOx to nitrates - vehicle emissions and
fossil fuel burning.
Crustal Products: components that are the result from the weathering of Earth's crust--ocean salt and volcanic
discharges-- aluminum, calcium, iron, titanium, and silicon--released by metals production, and can be resuspended in the atmosphere by mechanisms that stir up fine dust, such as mining, agricultural processes, and vehicle traffic.
Elemental Carbon: carbon in the form of soot- diesel engine emissions, wood-burning fireplaces, and forest fires.
Organic Carbon: may be released directly, but are also formed through a series of chemical reactions in the air, mostly
as a result of the burning of fossil fuels and wood.
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Ambient Monitoring Program
The Air Quality Index
The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a national air standard rating system developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The AQI is used statewide to provide the public, on a daily basis, with an analysis of air pollution levels and possible related health risks.
Generally, an index scale of 0 to 500 is used to assess the quality of air, and these numbers are synchronized with a corresponding descriptor word such as: Good, Moderate, Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, Unhealthy, and Very Unhealthy. To protect public health the EPA has set an AQI value of 100 to correspond to the NAAQS for the following criteria pollutants: Ozone (O3), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Particulate Matter 10 (PM10), Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5), and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2).
The AQI for a reporting region equates to the highest rating recorded for any pollutant within that region. Therefore, the larger the AQI value, the greater level of air pollution present, and the greater expectation of potential health concerns. However, this system only addresses air pollution in terms of acute health effects over time periods of 24 hours or less and does not provide an indication of chronic pollution exposure over months or years. Figure 40 shows how the recorded concentrations correspond to the AQI values, descriptors and health advisories. Each day the AQI values are available to the public through Georgia EPD's Ambient Air Monitoring website at https://airgeorgia.org/.
Maximum Pollutant Concentration
PM2.5
PM10
SO2
O3
O3
CO
NO2
(24hr) g/m3
(24hr) g/m3
(1hr)* ppm
(8hr)^ ppm
(1hr) ppm
(8hr) (1hr)
ppm ppm
AQI
Value
Descriptor
EPA Health Advisory
0.0
0 54 0 0.035 0.000
None
0.0
0
0 to 50 Good (green) Air quality is considered satisfactory,
12.0
0.054
4.4
0.053
and air pollution poses little or no risk.
12.1 35.4
Air quality is acceptable; however, for
some pollutants there may be a moder-
ate health concern for a very small
55
0.036 0.055
None
4.5 0.054- 51 to
Moderate
number of people. For example, people
154
0.075
0.070
9.4
0.100
100
(yellow)
who are unusually sensitive to the con-
dition of the air may experience respira-
tory symptoms.
35.5 55.4
55.5 150.4
155 254
255 354
0.076 0.185
0.186 0.304*
0.071 0.085
0.086 0.105
0.125 0.164
0.165 0.204
9.5 12.4
12.5 15.4
0.1010.360
0.3610.649
101 to 150
151 to 200
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
Unhealthy (red)
Members of sensitive groups (people with lung or heart disease) are at greater risk from exposure to particle pollution. Those with lung disease are at risk from exposure to ozone. The general public is not likely to be affected in this range.
Everyone may begin to experience health effects in this range. Members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.
150.5 250.4
355 424
0.305 0.604*
0.106 0.2
0.205 0.404
15.5 30.4
0.650 1.249
201 to 300
Very Unhealthy (purple)
AQI values in this range trigger a health alert. Everyone may experience more serious health effects. When the AQI is in this range because of ozone, most people should restrict their outdoor exertion to morning or late evening hours to avoid high ozone exposures.
250.5 350.4 350.5 500
425 504 505 604
0.605 0.804* 0.805 1.004*
None^ None^
0.405 0.504 0.505 0.604
30.5 40.4 40.5 50.4
1.250 1.649 1.650 2.049
301 to 400
401 to 500
Hazardous (maroon)
AQI values over 300 trigger health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected.
Figure 40. The AQI, *AQI values of 200 or greater are calculated with 24-hr SO2 concentrations, ^AQI values of 301 or greater are calculated
with 1-hr O3 concentrations. **AQI numbers above 100 may not be equivalent to a violation of the standard
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report
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.
Ambient Monitoring Program
2017 AQI Values Summary for Georgia
Air Quality Index Summary by CBSA Number of Days
Pollutants Monitored in 2017
Good (0-50)
Moderate (51-100)
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
(101-150)**
Unhealthy (151-200)**
Very Unheathy (201-300)**
Hazardous (>300)**
Albany
PM2.5 Americus
272
83
-
O3 Athens-Clark County
229
12
-
O3, PM2.5
314
46
-
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell
O3, NO2, PM2.5, CO, SO2, PM10
174
180
11
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
O3, PM2.5, PM10
260
103
1
Brunswick
O3, PM2.5 Chattanooga, TN-GA
257
19
-
O3, PM2.5 Columbus, GA-AL
237
123
2
Dalton
O3, PM2.5
249
113
-
O3 General Coffee
207
34
-
PM2.5 Gainesville
98
9
-
Macon
PM2.5
206
48
-
O3, SO2, PM2.5
284
81
-
Rome
SO2, PM2.5 Savannah
249
116
-
O3, SO2, PM2.5
289
76
-
Summerville
O3 Valdosta
232
8
-
PM2.5 Warner Robins
241
89
-
PM2.5
263
64
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
Table 1. 2017 AQI summary data, most days had an AQI value in the `Good' (0-50) category for all the sites.
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Ambient Monitoring Program
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell MSA
Figure 41 shows in more detail the AQI values for the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell MSA. There were 11 days with an AQI value above 100 in 2017. Ozone is a major driver of an elevated AQI and can be higher in the summer months due to increased sunlight. Higher ozone and PM2.5 concentrations are the primary sources of AQI values in the "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" category in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell MSA.
Figure 41. 2017 AQI Values for the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell MSA
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Ambient Monitoring Program
PHOTOCHEMICAL ASSESSMENT MONITORING STATIONS (PAMS)
To better understand ozone formation, EPD monitors oxides of nitrogen, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbonyl compounds, and meteorological parameters at the PAMS site. Isoprene, the tracer for VOCs emissions from vegetation, is by far the largest contributor to ozone formation at the PAMS site. It is naturally released in large quantities by conifer trees, which are very abundant in the Southeastern United States.
Georgia Monitoring Information
Figure 42. Georgia's PAMS monitoring site
Measurement Techniques
Throughout the year, 24-hour integrated volatile organic compounds samples are taken with a canister every sixth day and analyzed in the EPD laboratory for 56 hydrocarbon compounds using a gas chromatograph with mass spectroscopy detection (GC/MS).
more information about measurement technique
21https://www.perkinelmer.com/labsolutions/resources/docs/APP_Analysis-of -VOCs-in-Air-Using-EPA-Method-TO-17011909_01.pdf
Additionally, from June through August, hydrocarbon samples are analyzed hourly at the South DeKalb PAMS site using a gas chromatography unit with a Flame Ionization Detector (FID). 21
The amount of isoprene emissions from conifers varies seasonally, with emissions increasing as length of daylight and temperature increases (Figure 43).
Figure 43. Average yearly profile of isoprene
Toluene (generally the most abundant anthropogenic species in urban air) reaches the air from a variety of sources such as combustion of fossil fuels and evaporative emissions, motor vehicle fuel and is also used as a common solvent in many products such as paint. It is relatively constant throughout the year, suggesting a steady level of emissions year-round (Figure 44).
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report
Figure 44. Toluene average annual occurrence
49
Ambient Monitoring Program
Carbonyl Compounds
Carbonyl compounds define a large group of organic compounds, which include acetaldehyde, acrolein, and formaldehyde. These compounds can lead to ozone formation.
Sources of carbonyl compounds include vehicle exhaust, cigarette smoke, paper production, stationary internal combustion engines and turbines, solvents, polymers, plastics, and the combustion of wood.
Depending on the amount inhaled, exposure to these compounds can cause irritation to the eyes, ears, nose, and throat, dizziness, and damage to the lungs.
Figure 45. Georgia's carbonyls monitoring sites
Figure 46. Total Average 24-hour carbonyl concentrations by
Measurement Techniques
The carbonyls are sampled with two types of methods.
One method includes an absorbent cartridge filled with dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH), using High Performance Liquid Chromatography analysis. 22
Another collection method is the canister sampler that is used for sampling volatile organic compounds at the Air Toxics sites. Acrolein is analyzed using this method. The graph to the right shows this data.
Figure 47. Acrolein concentrations, 2015- 2017
more information about measurement techniques 22http://www.atec-online.com/
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Ambient Monitoring Program
AIR TOXICS MONITORING
In order for EPD to expand the understanding of the quality of Georgia's air regarding ambient concentrations of hazardous air pollutants, EPD began state-sponsored air toxics monitoring activities.
Air Toxics are those pollutants that cause or may cause cancer or other serious health effects, such as reproductive effects or birth defects, or adverse environmental and ecological effects.
Air toxic pollutants, or hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), are a group of air pollutants that have a wide variety of sources-- mobile sources (such as vehicles), stationary industrial sources, small area sources, indoor sources (such as cleaning materials), and other environmental sources (such as volcanoes and wildfires). The lifetime, transportation, and make-up of these pollutants are affected by both weather (rain and wind) and landscape (mountains and valleys). In addition, some HAPs that are no longer used, but were commonly used in the past, can still be found in the environment today.
Negative effects on human health range from headaches, nausea, and dizziness to cancer, birth defects, problems breathing, and other serious illnesses. These effects can vary depending on frequency of exposure, length of exposure time, health of the person that is exposed, along with the toxicity of the compound.
People can be exposed to HAPs by breathing contaminated air, consuming food or water contaminated by air pollutants, or touching contaminated water or soil.
Some of the substances tend to have only one critical effect, while others may have several. Some of the effects may occur after a short exposure and others appear after long-term exposure, or many years after being exposed.
These air pollutants also affect the environment. Wildlife experience symptoms similar to those in humans and pollutants accumulate in the food chain. Many air pollutants can also be absorbed into waterways and have toxic effects on aquatic wildlife.
From the list of 187 HAPs compounds identified by EPA, toxic compounds monitored include metals, volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, and carbonyl compounds.
Monitoring Techniques
Three types of samplers are used at all locations: the HIVOL, PUF, and canister. 23 The HIVOL sampler collects quartz fiber filters that
are subjected to a chemical digestion process and are analyzed on an inductively coupled plasma spectrometer. PUF (polyurethane foam) sampler is used for sampling semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) --A multi-layer cartridge is prepared which collects both the particulate fraction and the volatile fraction of this group of compounds, analyzed using a gas chromatograph. The canister sampler for VOCs is analyzed using a gas chromatograph with mass spectroscopy detection (GC/MS).
more information about measurement techniques
23https://tisch-env.com/high-volume-air-samplers/
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report
Figure 48. Air Toxics monitoring sites
51
Ambient Monitoring Program
METALS
Sources include: gasoline and diesel exhaust batteries soil and water burning coal emissions from iron and steel production lead smelters operation of iron and steel production
plants by-product of mining and smelting sulfide
ores used in industrial processes tires radioactive metal in radiotherapy photocells and solar panels
Sources include:
various industrial, stationary and mobile sources
VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
SEMI-VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
Sources include:
burning of coal, oil, gas, and garbage
found in dyes, cigarette smoke, coal tar, plastics, and pesticides
Figure 49. Air Toxics data
NATTS
The National Air Toxics Trends Station (NATTS) network was established in 2003 at the South DeKalb site and is intended for long-term operation for the purpose of discerning national trends.
The NATTS Network consists of 27 sites nationwide, 20 urban and 7 rural. The South DeKalb site monitors the same compounds as other air toxics sites, as well as black carbon, and carbonyls. As part of the NATTS network, metals are monitored on a PM10 sampler at the South DeKalb site. The sample is
analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).
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Near-Road VOCs
The NR-285 site is set up as part of the Near-Road Monitoring Network and is located within 40 meters of I285, a heavily traveled interstate. The South DeKalb site is approximately a mile away from the NR-285 site and is located 580 meters from the same interstate.
NR-285 site
South DeKalb site
The following scatterplots and correlations were created to compare select VOCs that had several pollutant detections at both the South DeKalb and NR-285 sites.
VOC Toluene M/P Xylene Chloromethane Trichlorofluoromethane Dicholrodifluoromethane Benzene
Correlation Coefficient (r)
0.704 0.612
0.493 0.501 0.697 0.590
Figure 50. Comparison of select VOCs at the South DeKalb and NR-285 sites
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report
A few of the VOCs at the South DeKalb and NR-285 sites have relatively low to moderate correlations (values below and around 0.50). Stronger correlations would be values above 0.70. This suggests that some VOCs found in vehicle exhaust dissipate quickly in the air.
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Black Carbon
Figure 51. Black carbon monitoring sites
Near-Road 285 Monitoring
Near-Road GA Tech Monitoring
Figure 52. Comparison of black carbon at the NR-Georgia Tech and NR-285 sites
The black carbon scatterplots show a relatively high correlation (R2=0.5546) between the South DeKalb and NR-285 sites. The scatterplots that include GA Tech have less correlation, (R2=0.0835 and 0.1739) which could be an indication of less truck die-
sel traffic (black carbon) in the downtown corridor versus the I-285 perimeter.
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RISK ASSESSMENT
The following risk assessment reflects data collected at the Air Toxics Network (ATN) sites (MaconForestry, General Coffee, SavannahE. President St.) and the National Air Toxics Trends Station (NATTS) (South DeKalb). Some of the chemicals monitored at the ATN sites are also monitored at Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Station (PAMS) (South DeKalb) and at a Near-road Monitoring Network site (NR-285); therefore, those chemicals were evaluated and compared to concentrations measured at nearby ATN sites for this report.
To put into perspective the risks from environmental hazards, the continuum below presents risk statistics for some familiar events. Risk analysts describe cancer risks numerically in scientific notation, for example 1 x 10[-5], 1 x 10-5 or 1.00E-05, which means that there is one chance in 100,000 of an event occurring. It is important to note that these risk statistics are population averages, while risk analysts usually estimate risk to the maximum exposed individual. Additionally, it should be noted that these risk values are considered additional risk. That is, risk above the normal background risk from exposure in everyday life.
Putting Risks in Perspective
Methods
The initial evaluation consisted of a comparison of the monitored results to "health based" screening values. These values were calculated using procedures recommended in EPA's latest guidance on risk assessment for air toxics, `A Preliminary Risk-Based Screening Approach for Air Toxics Monitoring Data Sets' (https://archive.org/details/ APreliminaryRisk-basedScreeningApproachForAirToxicsMonitoringDataSets). Briefly, EPA's prioritized chronic doseresponse (toxicity) values for both non-cancer (reference concentrations, RfC) and cancer (inhalation unit risks, IUR) effects were used to generate screening air concentrations. To screen for non-cancer effects, the reference concentration was used as a starting point. However, to account for possible exposure to multiple contaminants acting on the same target organ or body system, the screening air concentration was obtained by dividing the RfC by a factor of 10. Screening values for the cancer endpoint were determined by calculating air concentrations equivalent to a risk level of one in one million. Most screening values utilized in this assessment are listed in Appendix A of the above mentioned guidance document and updated "Table 1. Prioritized Chronic Dose-Response Values for Screening Risk Assessments (6/18/2018)" (https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-05/ documents/table1.pdf). The screening values are derived from the dose-response values: cancer-based air screening values=1E-06/IUR and non-cancer based air screening values=RfC x 0.1 x 1000. For a limited number of chemicals, other resources such as toxicity values from the Regional Screening Table (https://semspub.epa.gov/ work/HQ/197233.pdf) were used to calculate conservative screening values protective of a worse-case residential exposure scenario. Assumptions were made that accounted for the potential for continuous exposure to air toxics for 24 hours per day for 70 years. The conservative screening process was utilized so that the chance of underestimating the potential for health impacts would be minimized, as chemicals were excluded from further quantitative analysis. The following figure shows the formulas used to calculate cancer risk and non-cancer hazard for chemicals that were carried beyond the screening process into the quantitative assessment.
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Formula for Calculating Risk Using IUR for Carcinogens:
Risk IUR*Conc
Formula for Calculating Hazard Quotient Using RfC for Noncarcinogens:
HQ Conc RfC
Equation Parameters: Risk: Theoretical lifetime cancer risk (unitless probability) HQ: Hazard quotient (unitless ratio) Conc: Measured ambient air concentration in g/m3 IUR: Inhalation unit risk (1/(g/m3)) RfC: Reference concentration (g/m3)
Results and Interpretation
Seventy-one air toxic chemicals were assessed at four sites, and 42 volatile organic compounds were assessed at one site (NR-285) in Georgia. Out of these air toxic chemicals, ten were found to be above the screening values. Table 2 shows the theoretical cancer risk and non-cancer hazard that would result from an individual breathing air containing the detected chemicals at the estimated concentrations daily for 70 years, or a full lifetime. These cancer risk and hazard quotient estimates are likely conservative because they were calculated assuming continuous exposure to outdoor air at breathing rates typical of moderate exertion. Real risk cannot be calculated, but may be substantially lower. Lifetime cancer risks for the limited number of chemicals exceeding screening values exceeded 1 x 10-6 or one in one million, a value generally deemed as insignificant. However, lifetime cancer risks for these chemicals did not exceed 2 x 10-5 or two in one-hundred thousand. This risk estimate falls within EPA's acceptable cancer risk range of 1 x 10-6 to 1 x 10-4 commonly used for regulatory decision making.
In contrast to cancer risks, non-cancer hazards are not expressed as a probability of an individual suffering an adverse effect. Instead, the non-cancer hazard to individuals is expressed in terms of a ratio defined as the hazard quotient (HQ). These HQ values relate daily exposure concentrations, or dose, to a concentration or an amount thought to be without appreciable risks of causing deleterious non-cancer effects in sensitive individuals as well as the general population. HQ values less than 1.0 indicate the air "dose" is less than the threshold dose required to cause toxic effects other than cancer.
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Site
Chemical
Arsenic
Benzene
Ethylene dichloride Macon-Forestry Carbon tetrachloride
Ethylene dibromide
1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane
Acrolein
Arsenic
Benzene
Savannah-E. Pres. Ethylene dichloride
St.
Carbon tetrachloride
Ethylene dibromide
Acrolein
Arsenic
Benzene
General Coffee Ethylene dichloride
Carbon tetrachloride
Ethylene dibromide
Arsenic
Benzene
Ethylene dichloride
South DeKalb Carbon tetrachloride
Ethylene dibromide
1,4-dichlorobenzene
Acrolein
Benzene
Ethylene dichloride
NR-285 Carbon Tetrachloride
Ethylene dibromide
Acrolein
CAS #
7440-38-2 71-43-2 107-06-2 56-23-5 106-93-4 79-34-5 107-02-8
7440-38-2 71-43-2 107-06-2 56-23-5 106-93-4 107-02-8
7440-38-2 71-43-2 107-06-2 56-23-5 106-93-4
7440-38-2 71-43-2 107-06-2 56-23-5 106-93-4 106-46-7 107-02-8 71-43-2 107-06-2 56-23-5 106-93-4 107-02-8
Annual Average (g/m3)
7.0E-04 2.9E-01 8.2E-02 4.1E-01 1.5E-02 1.8E-02 6.1E-01 8.0E-04 3.6E-01 4.8E-02 4.1E-01 9.9E-03 3.7E-01 5.0E-04 2.9E-01 4.1E-02 4.0E-01 1.1E-02 7.0E-04 5.7E-01 6.4E-02 3.8E-01 1.0E-02 9.7E-02 4.0E-01 5.5E-01 5.4E-02 4.0E-01 1.3E-02 3.5E-01
Cancer Risk
Hazard Quotient
3.E-06
0.05
2.E-06
0.01
1.E-07
0.0002
2.E-06
0.004
9.E-06
0.002
1.E-06
N/A
N/A
2
3.E-06
0.05
3.E-06
0.01
8.E-08
0.0001
2.E-06
0.004
6.E-06
0.001
N/A
1
2.E-06
0.03
2.E-06
0.01
7.E-08
0.00008
2.E-06
0.004
7.E-06
0.001
3.E-06
0.05
4.E-06
0.02
1.E-07
0.0001
2.E-06
0.004
6.E-06
0.001
1.E-06
0.0001
N/A
1
4.E-06
0.02
9.E-08
0.0001
2.E-06
0.004
8.E-06
0.001
N/A
1
CAS # is Chemical Abstracts Services number for each compound, which is a specific way to identify each compound.
Table 2. Site-specific mean concentration, cancer risk, and hazard quotient by location for chemicals that exceeded their screening values in 2017
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The following table and graph show the aggregate, or sum, of all the theoretical cancer risk and hazard quotients at each site.
Site
Aggregate Cancer Risk
Macon-Forestry Savannah-E. Pres. St.
General Coffee South DeKalb
NR-285
2.E-05 1.E-05 1.E-05 2.E-05 1.E-05
Table 3. Aggregate cancer risk and hazard index by site for 2017
Hazard Index
2 1 0.05 1 1
Figure 53 is a graphical representation of each site's theoretical hazard index and respective cancer risks shown in Table 3. The screening values utilized in this assessment are listed in Appendix B.
*VOCs only at NR-285
Figure 53. Aggregate cancer risk and hazard index by site for 2017
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The following table shows the summary information for the PAMS site. Of the chemicals that are evaluated in conjunction with the Air Toxics data, benzene, ethylbenzene, and 1,2,4 trimethylbenzene were three chemicals found above the screening value at this site.
Site
Chemical
CAS #
Annual Average (g/m3)
Cancer Risk
Hazard Quotient
Benzene South DeKalb Ethylbenzene
71-43-2
5.5
100-41-4
2.3
4.E-05 6.E-06
0.2 0.002
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 95-63-6
94.4
N/A
2
Table 4. Mean, cancer risks, and hazard quotients for VOCs from the PAMs site which exceeded their screening levels in 2017
There are two air monitoring sites in Georgia that collect carbonyls data in 2017, as discussed earlier. The risk assessment for this data is summarized in the following table.
Site
Chemical
Savannah Formaldehyde Formaldehyde
South DeKalb Acetaldehyde Propionaldehyde
CAS #
50-00-0 50-00-0 75-07-0 123-83-6
Annual Average (g/m3)
3.7E-01
1.7E+00 2.1E+00 2.8E+00
Cancer Risk
5.E-06 2.E-05 5.E-06 N/A
Hazard Quotient
0.04 0.2 0.2 0.3
Table 5. Mean, cancer risks, and hazard quotients for carbonyls which exceeded their screening levels in 2017
This report summarizes the concentrations measured and associated cancer risk and hazard quotient as detailed above. For specific questions regarding public health, please contact:
Franklin Sanchez, REHS Director Chemical Hazards Program Environmental Health Georgia Department of Public Health 2 Peachtree Street NW, 13th Floor Atlanta, GA 30303-3142 404.657.6534 Fax: 404.657.6516 Franklin.Sanchez@dph.ga.gov
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The maps below show the estimated rate of lung related diseases per county in Georgia. This is based on data obtained from the American Lung Association's 'Estimated Prevalence and Incidence of Lung Disease' (https://www.lung.org/our-initiatives/research/ monitoring-trends-in-lung-disease/estimated-prevalence-and-incidence-of-lung-disease/). These rates are mapped as the number of estimated lung related disease cases per 1000 or 100 people in each county, based on 2016 data.
Adult Asthma Rate Per 1000
Pediatric Asthma Rate Per 1000
Lung Cancer Rate Per 100
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Rate Per 1000
Figure 54. Estimated incidence of lung related diseases in Georgia
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METEOROLOGICAL REPORT
State Climatology and Meteorological Summary of 2017
The climate across North and Central Georgia varies based on a variety of factors, the most prominent of which is terrain. The Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean are the two nearby maritime bodies that exert an important influence on the
North Georgia climate, acting as major sources of moisture support. A complete suite of meteorological instrumentation is used to characterize meteorological conditions around metropolitan
Atlanta. See Appendix C for details.
Figure 55. Meteorological Site Map
Figure 56. Sample meteorological instrumentation at EPD sites: a) ceilometer, b) sonic anemometer, c) Temperature probe and relative humidity monitor, d) tipping bucket
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2017 Climate Highlights
Hurricane Irma
Hurricane Irma made landfall in southwest Florida on September 10, 2017. By the morning of Monday, September 11th, then-Tropical Storm Irma moved into Georgia with a very large wind field
containing at least tropical storm force wind gusts (39+mph). The heaviest rainfall totals were confined to far southeast Georgia Widespread sustained winds of 30-45 mph with gusts in the 50-65 mph range downed numerous trees and power lines
across the area
Figure 57. Rainfall in Georgia during Hurricane Irma (images and information courtesy of National Weather Service Peachtree City)
For more information regarding the Georgia Climate Office, see https://epd.georgia.gov/office-state-climatologist.
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North Georgia Winter Storm
A winter weather event unfolded across most of north Georgia beginning the evening of Friday, January 6, 2017 and lasted through the morning hours on Saturday, January 7, 2017.
The result was several inches of snow across much of north Georgia, with significant freezing rain accumulations up to a quarter of an inch across much of the Atlanta metropolitan area.
Figure 59. Snowfall in Georgia, January 6-7 (National Weather Service at Peachtree City)
Solar Eclipse
A total solar eclipse of the sun was visible within a narrow pathway across the U.S. on August 21st. Parts of North Georgia were within the path of the shadow.
There was a noticeable decrease in photochemically-produced ozone detected during the eclipse, as seen in hourly ozone and solar radiation data below.
Figure 60. Solar Eclipse Event/Ozone Comparison
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2017 Drought Conditions for Georgia
From January through March, drought conditions were mostly confined to north Georgia with D3 drought conditions present in north Georgia
Drought conditions migrated southward through mid-June with D3 conditions observed in south Georgia All drought conditions were eliminated by July 25th By mid-November, much of south Georgia and the Atlanta metro area either showed D0 or D1 drought conditions D1 conditions across south Georgia continued to expand through the end of the year
Figure 61. Drought Conditions in Georgia
Agricultural Impacts
Most of the agricultural impacts were felt in northeast and far south Georgia where drought conditions were most extreme
Much of the peach crop (around 80%) was devastated by a combinations of the warm winter, a late frost, and lingering stress from the La Nina 2016 drought
Critical hay shortage during peak drought conditions with no hay to harvest, farmers had to import scarce, smaller, and more expensive hay with poorer quality
Numerous reports of reduced amounts of beef and milk produced by livestock, ponds and creeks that were dried up completely, and brush fires
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Air Quality Forecasting Statistics
Table 6: Observed Air Quality in 2017
Observed # of Days in AQI Category
Metro Area and Pollutant Atlanta Ozone Macon Ozone Atlanta PM2.5 Columbus PM2.5
Total # of days in record 214 214 365 342
Good 137 193 217 286
Moderate 67 21 148 56
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 11 0 0 0
Note: Total number of days in record based on AirNow data for observed measurements.
Unhealthy 0 0 0 0
Table 7: Predicted Air Quality in 2017
Hits
Atlanta Ozone
1
Macon Ozone
0
Atlanta PM2.5
0
Columbus PM2.5
0
Misses 9 0 0 0
False Alarms
4
0
0
0
Bias 2.7 ppbv
Gross Error
7.2 ppbv
4.0 ppbv 7.3 ppbv
0.2 g/m3 2.7 g/m3 0.5 g/m3 2.5 g/m3
Correlation (-1 to +1)
0.76
0.68
0.65
0.61
% Accurate 2 categories 94
100
100
100
% Accurate 5 categories 79
90
78
84
Notes:
Hits are the number of days on which an observed exceedance of the daily NAAQS was correctly predicted.
Misses are the number of days on which an observed exceedance of the daily NAAQS was not predicted.
False Alarms are the number of days on which an exceedance of the daily NAAQS was predicted, but was not later observed.
Bias is the average tendency to over-predict (positive bias) or under-predict (negative bias) the observed pollutant concentration.
Gross Error is the average absolute error of the predictions relative to the observations.
Correlation is a measure of the ability to predict the relative change in observed concentrations. Higher positive correlation implies that the predictions are accurately anticipating changes in the observed concentrations.
% Accurate 2 categories is the percentage of days when the forecast prediction correctly matched the observation for the "no smog alert" / "smog alert" condition (i.e. 2 categories).
% Accurate 5 categories is the percentage of days when the forecast prediction correctly matched the observation for five categories of the Air Quality Index (Good, Moderate, Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, Unhealthy, and Very Unhealthy).
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Observed and Predicted Air Quality: Figure 62. Atlanta observed and predicted ozone, 2017
Figure 63. Atlanta observed and predicted PM2.5, 2017
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Observed and Predicted Air Quality: Figure 64. Macon observed and predicted ozone, 2017
Figure 65. Columbus observed and predicted PM2.5, 2017
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Quality Assurance/Quality Control Program
The purpose of the QA/QC Program is to assure the quality of data from EPD's air monitoring network. The GA EPD meets or exceeds the QA requirements defined in 40 CFR 58 and all applicable appendices. With the QA Program, GA EPD independently challenges the ambient air monitors to ensure they meet the requirements of 40 CFR 58.
The QA/QC program includes but is not limited to the following activities: Instrument performance audits Monitor siting evaluations Precision and span checks Bias determinations Flow rate determinations Leak checks Data validation
For additional independent quality assurance activities, the EPD participates in EPA's National Performance Audit Program (NPAP) and Performance Evaluation Program (PEP) for criteria pollutants. EPD's samplers are compared on a national basis through these independent audits. As the Primary Quality Assurance Organization (PQAO) for ambient air monitoring activities in Georgia, the Ambient Monitoring Program operates under an EPA approved Quality Management Plan and utilizes Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs) for each state wide monitoring network. The primary purpose of the QAPP is to provide an overview of the project, describe the need for the measurements and define QA/QC activities to be applied to the project. All other ambient air monitoring initiatives, including state and industrial projects, must have an approved monitoring plan for each specific project.
Accuracy Levels
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Accuracy Levels
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Appendix Section
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Appendix A: Georgia Air Monitoring Network
Black
PM2.5 PM2.5 PM2.5 PM
PM10 PAMS
Carb-
Car- Met
SITE ID Site Name COUNTY O3 CO FRM Cont. Spec. Coarse NOx NO2 NOy SO2 Pb PM10 Cont. VOC VOC SVOC onyls Met bon als
Rome MSA
131150003 Rome
Floyd
S X
131150005 Kraftsman Floyd
S
NR
Brunswick MSA
131270006 Brunswick Glynn S
S
NR
Valdosta MSA
131850003 Valdosta Lowndes
S S
Warner Robins MSA
Warner Rob-
131530001
ins
Houston
S S
Dalton MSA
Fort Moun-
132130003
tain
Murray S
NR
Albany MSA
130950007 Albany Dougherty
S S
Gainesville MSA
131390003 Gainesville
Hall
S S
Athens-Clark County MSA
130590002 Athens
Clarke S
SS X
Macon MSA
130210007 Macon-Allied Bibb
Macon-
130210012 Forestry
Bibb S
Columbus Georgia- Alabama MSA
Columbus-
132150001 Health Dept. Muscogee
Columbus-
132150008 Airport Muscogee S
Columbus-
132150009 Allied Muscogee
Columbus-
132150010 Joy Rd Muscogee
Columbus-
132150011 Cusseta Muscogee
Columbus-
132151003 Crime Lab Muscogee
Savannah MSA
S
X
S S
S S S
S
X
S
S S S
NR NR
NR
NR
NR
Savannah-E.
130510021 President St. Chatham S
Savannah-
130510091 Mercer Chatham
Savannah-
130511002
L&A
Chatham
Augusta Georgia-South Carolina MSA
130730001 Evans Columbia S
132450091 Augusta Richmond S
S S
SS X
S
NR NR NR NR
NR
S
NR
NR
S
S S
NR
Monitoring Types: S=SLAMS; P=PAMS; C=NCore; X=Supplemental Speciation; T=STN; N=NATTS; R=Near-Road; NR=Non-Regulatory; A=CASTNET
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Appendix A: Georgia Air Monitoring Network (continued)
SITE ID Site Name COUNTY Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell MSA
PM2.5 PM2.5 PM2.5 PM NO/
PM10 PAMS
Carb-
O3 CO FRM Cont. Spec. Coarse NOx NO2 NOy SO2 Pb PM10 Cont VOC VOC SVOC onyls
Black
Car- Met Met bon als
130630091 Forest Park Clayton
S
130670003 Kennesaw Cobb S
S
130770002 Newnan* Coweta S
S
NR
130850001 Dawsonville Dawson S
South DeK-
S/
C
S/P/
130890002
alb
DeKalb S/ P/C S/C S/C T/C
S/P S/P C C
NR C P N N P/N P N N
130890003 NR-285 DeKalb
R R
S
R
R
130970004 Douglasville Douglas S
NR
131210039 Fire Station Fulton
S
S
131210055 Confederate Fulton S
S
S
NR
131210056 NR-GA Tech Fulton
R R
131350002 Gwinnett Gwinnett S 131510002 McDonough Henry S
S S S
132319991 EPA CAST- Pike A
132470001 Conyers Rockdale S/P Chattanooga Tennessee-Georgia MSA
132950002 Rossville Not In An MSA
Walker
130550001 Summerville Chattooga S
S S X
130690002 General Coffee
S
X
132611001 Leslie Sumter S
Washing-
133030001 Sandersville ton
S
R R
R R P
NR NR
NR
*closed in 2017
Monitoring Types: S=SLAMS; P=PAMS; C=NCore; X=Supplemental Speciation; T=STN; N=NATTS; R=Near-Road; NR=Non-Regulatory; A=CASTNET
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Appendix B: Air Toxics Compounds Monitored and Risk Assessment Screening Values used in Initial Assessment
CAS # Chemical
7440-36-0 7440-38-2 7440-41-7 7440-43-9 18540-29-9
Metals Antimony Arsenic Beryllium Cadmium Chromium**
83-32-9 208-96-8 120-12-7 56-55-3
205-99-2 207-08-9 191-24-2 50-32-8 192-97-2 218-01-9
71-43-2 100-52-7 100-44-7 74-83-9 106-99-0 123-72-8 108-90-7 75-00-3 75-01-4 74-87-3 110-82-7 106-93-4 95-50-1 541-73-1 106-46-7
75-71-8 75-34-3 107-06-2 156-59-2 75-35-4 75-09-2 78-87-5 10061-01-5 10061-02-6 76-14-2 95-47-6
Semi-Volatiles Acenaphthene Acenaphthylene Anthracene Benzo(a)anthracene Benzo(b)fluoranthene Benzo(k)fluoranthene Benzo(g,h,i)perylene Benzo(a)pyrene Benzo(e)pyrene Chrysene Volatile Organic Compounds Benzene Benzenecarbonal (Benzaldehyde) Benzyl chloride Bromomethane (Methyl bromide) 1,3-Butadiene Butanal (Butyraldehyde) Chlorobenzene (Phenyl chloride) Chloroethane (Ethyl chloride) Chloroethene (Vinyl chloride) Chloromethane (Methyl chloride) Cyclohexane 1,2-Dibromoethane (Ethylene dibromide) 1,2-Dichlorobenzene 1,3-Dichlorobenzene 1,4-Dichlorobenzene
Dichlorodifluoromethane (Freon 12)
1,1-Dichloroethane (Ethylidene chloride) 1,2-Dichloroethane (Ethylene dichloride) cis-1,2-Dichloroethene 1,1-Dichloroethene (1,1-Dichloroethylene) Dichloromethane (Methylene chloride) 1,2-Dichloropropane (Propylene dichloride) cis-1,3-Dichloropropene trans-1,3-Dichloropropene 1,1-Dichloro-1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethane(Freon114) 1,2-Dimethylbenzene (o-Xylene)
Screen Value (g/m3)
CAS # Chemical
0.02 0.00023 0.00042 0.00056
N/A
7440-48-4 7439-92-1 7439-96-5 7440-02-0 7782-49-2 7440-66-6
Cobalt Lead Manganese Nickel Selenium Zinc
0.3 0.3 0.3 0.017
0.017 0.17 0.3 0.0017 0.3 0.091
27208-37-3 53-70-3 206-44-0 86-73-7
193-39-5 91-20-3 85-01-8 198-55-0 129-00-0
Cyclopenta(cd)pyrene Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene Fluoranthene Fluorene Indeno(1,2,3-c,d)pyrene Naphthalene Phenanthrene Perylene Pyrene
0.13 N/A 0.02 0.5 0.03 N/A 100 1000 0.11 9.0 6300* 0.002 210* N/A 0.091
100* 0.63 0.038 N/A 210* 100 0.76* N/A N/A N/A 10
108-38-3/106-42-3 1,3 and 1,4-Dimethylbenzene (m/p-Xylene)
75-07-0
Ethanal (Acetaldehyde)
100-41-4
Ethylbenzene
100-42-5
Ethenylbenzene (Styrene)
622-97-9
Benzene,1-ethenyl-4-methyl (p-Ethyltoluene)
76-13-1
Freon 113
87-68-3
Hexachloro-1,3-Butadiene(Hexachlorobutadiene)
110-54-3 50-00-0
n-Hexane Methanal (Formaldehyde)
108-88-3
Methylbenzene/Phenylmethane (Toluene)
123-38-6 67-64-1
Propanal (Propionaldehyde) 2-Propanone (Acetone)
107-02-8
Propenal (Acrolein)
79-34-5
1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane
127-18-4
Tetrachloroethene (Perchloroethylene)
56-23-5
Tetrachlormethane (Carbon tetrachloride)
120-82-1 526-73-8 95-63-6
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene 1,2,3-Trimethylbenzene 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene
108-67-8
1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene
71-55-6
1,1,1-Trichloroethane (Methyl chloroform)
79-00-5
1,1,2-Trichloroethane
79-01-6
Trichloroethene (Trichloroethylene)
75-69-4
Trichlorofluoromethane (Freon 11)
67-66-3
Trichloromethane (Chloroform)
Screen Value (g/m3)
0.01 0.15 0.3 0.0021
2 N/A
N/A 0.0017
0.3 0.3 0.017 0.3*** 0.3 N/A 0.3
10 0.45 0.4 100 N/A N/A 0.045 70 0.0769 40 0.8 32000* 0.35 0.017 3.846 0.17 20 63* 63* N/A 5000 0.063 0.244 N/A* 9.8
Sources: `A Preliminary Risk-Based Screening Approach for Air Toxics Monitoring Data Sets' (U.S. EPA, 2010)(https://archive.org/details/ APreliminaryRisk-basedScreeningApproachForAirToxicsMonitoringDataSets), "Table 1. Prioritized Chronic Dose-Response Values for Screening Risk Assessments (6/18/2018)(https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-05/documents/table1.pdf)." *Regional Screening Level (RSL) Summary Table (TR=1E-06. HQ=1) May 2018 (https://semspub.epa.gov/work/HQ/197233.pdf) **After discussing with GA EPD Laboratory, the chromium sample was clarified to be chromium+3, which does not have a screening value. Therefore, chromium was not assessed. ***Naphthalene: 1 in 10,000 uncertainty in IUR; therefore IUR not used in developing screening value.
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report
73
Ambient Monitoring Program
Appendix C: Meteorological Instruments used in 2017
PARAMETER
Wind Speed/Wind Direction
Ambient Temperature/ Relative Hu-
midity
LOCATION
D
COMPANY
INSTRUMENT
A
B r
C o
C o
C
D a
S .
S a
o Mu
N
S
MODEL
u g u
u n
l C
n f
o n y
w s o
D e
v .
a c o
g l a
eFE w t. v
Ma
N R -
a v
s
s
r
A e
n
K
P n
s
n
t
L nG
t a
wL ic a
v e
r s
vi ll
a l
r e
S E
v il
a n
n
s
T
& A
kb .
e b s
l
e
R.M. Young R.M. Young R.M. Young
Ultrasonic Anemometer
Ultrasonic Anemometer
TEMP/RH Probe
81000 X X X
X X X X
X X
X X
85000
41375V
C
X
X X
X
X X
X
R.M. TEMP/RH SENSOR, 41382V
X
X X
X
Young
DEG C
C
R.M.
Barometric Pres- 61201 X
X
Young
sure Sensor
Barometric Pressure
R.M. Barometric Pres-
Young
sure Sensor
61302V
X
X X
Precipitation
No-
Tipping Bucket
260- X
X
X
X
valynx
Rain Gauge
2501
Solar Radiation
Eppley Standard Precision PSP/
X
Lab
Pyronometer
SPP
Total Ultraviolet Radiation Data Logger
Towers
Eppley Lab
ESC
ESC
Aluma Tower
Inc. Aluma Tower
Inc.
Total Ultraviolet Radiometer
Data System Controller
Data System Controller
Crank-Up Tower
Fold-Over Tower
TUVR
X
8832 X X
X X X X X X X X X X X X
8816
X
T-135 X X X X X
X X X X X
X X
FOT-10
X
X X
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report
74
Ambient Monitoring Program
Appendix D: Pollutant Concentrations
Primary NAAQS: Secondary NAAQS:
National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Carbon Monoxide 8-hour average not to exceed 9 ppm more than once per year None
Pollutant: Data Interval:
Site ID
130890002 131210056
Carbon Monoxide Hourly
City County
Decatur DeKalb Atlanta Fulton
Criteria Pollutant Summary Report - 2017
Site Name
South DeKalb NR-GA
Tech
Hours Measured
7349
8460
Units: Parts per million (ppm)
Max
1 - Hour
1st
2nd
Obs. > Max 8 - Hour Obs.
35
> 9
1st
2nd
2.853 2.292
0
1.4 1.3 0
2.4
2.3
0
2.1 1.8 0
Primary NAAQS: Secondary NAAQS:
National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Nitrogen Dioxide
Annual mean must not exceed 53 ppb 3-year average of the 98th percentile of daily maximum one-hour averages must not
exceed 100 ppb Annual mean must not exceed 53 ppb
Pollutant: Data Interval:
Nitrogen Dioxide Hourly
Criteria Pollutant Summary Report - 2017
Units: Parts per billion (ppb)
Site ID
City
County
Site Name
Hours Measured
98th%
Max 1-Hour
1st
2nd
Annual Arithmetic
Mean
130890002 Decatur DeKalb South DeKalb
74
44.9
51.9
51.6
8.72
130890003 Atlanta DeKalb
NR-285
200
52.5
61.2
58.1
14.91
131210056 Atlanta Fulton NR-GA Tech
74
47.2
58.7
52.3
17.93
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report
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Pollutant: Data Interval:
NOx Hourly
Site ID
City
130890002 130890003 131210056
Decatur Atlanta Atlanta
Pollutant Summary Report - 2017
County
Site Name
Hours Measured
DeKalb South DeKalb
8011
DeKalb
NR-285
8504
Fulton
NR-GA Tech
8361
Units: Parts per billion (ppb)
Max 1-Hour
1st
2nd
361.6
328
398.5
385.5
292.4
251.9
Annual Arithmetic
Mean 20.36
36.79
41.96
Pollutant: Data Interval:
NOy Hourly
Pollutant Summary Report - 2017
Units: Parts per billion (ppb)
Site ID 130890002
City Decatur
County DeKalb
Site Name South DeKalb
Hours Measured
8063
Max 1-Hour
1st
2nd
216.0
214.0
Annual Arithmetic Mean
21.24
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Primary NAAQS: Secondary NAAQS:
Pollutant: Data Interval:
Ozone Hourly
National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone 3-year average of 4th highest daily maximum 8-hr concentration not to exceed 0.070 ppm Same as the Primary Standards
Criteria Pollutant Summary Report - 2017
8-Hour Averages
Units: Parts per million (ppm)
Site ID
City
County
Site Name
Days Measured
1st Max
2nd Max
3rd Max
4thMax
Number of Days >0.070
130210012
Macon
Bibb
Macon-
245
.068 .067 .065
.063
0
Forestry
Savannah-E.
130510021 Savannah
Chatham
220
.063 .058 .058
.057
0
Pres. St.
130550001 Summerville Chattooga Summerville
240
.059 .059 .057
.057
0
130590002
Athens
Clarke
Athens
244
.069 .066 .063
.063
0
130670003 Kennesaw
Cobb
Kennesaw
245
.069 .067 .065
.065
0
130730001
Evans
Columbia
Evans
245
.072 .061 .059
.058
1
130770002
Newnan
Coweta
Newnan
242
.062 .062 .058
.057
0
130850001 Dawsonville
Dawson
Dawsonville
242
.074 .071 .068
.065
2
130890002
Decatur
DeKalb
South DeKalb
352
.083 .069 .069
.068
1
130970004 Douglasville
Douglas
Douglasville
225
.085 .068 .067
.066
1
131210055
Atlanta
Fulton
Confederate
235
.081 .077 .076
.074
6
Ave.
131270006 Brunswick
Glynn
Brunswick
241
.063 .058 .057
.056
0
131350002 Lawrenceville Gwinnett Gwinnett Tech
234
.069 .067 .067
.065
0
131510002 McDonough
Henry
McDonough
237
.079 .076 .073
.065
3
132130003 Chatsworth
Murray
Fort Mountain
209
.070 .068 .067
.066
0
Columbus-
132150008 Columbus
Muscogee
Airport
244
.065 .064 .063
.058
0
132319991 Williamson
Pike
CASTNET
236
.076 .066 .064
.062
1
132450091
Augusta
Richmond
Augusta
240
.061 .059 .058
.058
0
132470001
Conyers
Rockdale
Conyers
239
.078 .069 .067
.065
1
132611001
Leslie
Sumter
Leslie
240
.060 .059 .059
.058
0
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report
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Ambient Monitoring Program
Pollutant: Data Interval:
Ozone Hourly
Site ID
City
130210012
Macon
130510021
Savannah
130550001 Summerville
130590002
Athens
130670003 130730001 130770002
Kennesaw Evans
Newnan
130850001 130890002 130970004 131210055
Dawsonville Decatur
Douglasville Atlanta
131270006
Brunswick
131350002 Lawrenceville
131510002 132130003 132150008 132319991 132450091 132470001 132611001
McDonough Chatsworth Columbus Williamson
Augusta Conyers
Leslie
Criteria Pollutant Summary Report - 2017
County Bibb
Chatham Chattooga
Clarke Cobb Columbia Coweta Dawson DeKalb Douglas Fulton Glynn Gwinnett Henry Murray Muscogee Pike Richmond Rockdale Sumter
1-Hour Averages Site Name
Macon-Forestry Savannah-E. Pres. St.
Summerville Athens
Kennesaw Evans
Newnan Dawsonville South DeKalb Douglasville Confederate Ave. Brunswick Gwinnett Tech McDonough Fort Mountain Columbus- Airport
CASTNET Augusta Conyers
Leslie
Units: Parts per million (ppm)
Days Measured 245 223 240 244 245 245 243 244 354 239 238 241 234 239 223 245 238 243 243 241
1st Max .078 .070 .072 .084 .077 .077 .073 .099 .099 .097 .090 .072 .087 .092 .084 .073 .088 .073 .094 .067
2nd Max .076 .069 .064 .073 .076 .073 .072 .079 .086 .078 .086 .067 .079 .090 .075 .071 .080 .072 .082 .066
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report
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Ambient Monitoring Program
Primary NAAQS: Secondary NAAQS:
National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Sulfur Dioxide 3-year average of 99th percentile of the daily maximum 1-hour concentration not to exceed 75 ppb 3-hour concentrations not to exceed 0.5 ppm (500 ppb) more than once per year
Pollutant: Data Interval:
Sulfur Dioxide Hourly
Criteria Pollutant Summary Report - 2017 Units: Parts per billion (ppb)
Site ID 130210012
City Macon
County
Site Name
Hours Measured
Macon-
Bibb
Forestry
8467
Max 24 Hour
1st
2nd
1.5 1.3
Max 3 Hour
1st
2nd
Max 1-Hour
1st
2nd
99th Pctl
1- Hr
Maximum
5Minute Average
Annual Arithmetic Mean
2.2 1.8 8.4 2.3 2.2
5.0
0.60
130510021 Savan-
Chat- Savannah- 8318 10.4 9.6 23.1 22.5 40.8 38.8 35.8
73.4
1.04
nah
ham E. Pres. St
Savan-
Chat- Savannah-
130511002
nah
ham
L&A
8581 12.7 11.6 44.9 41 62.1 59.9 53.2 133.8
1.47
South
130890002 Decatur DeKalb
DeKalb
8174 1.0 0.9 1.5 1.3 2.0 1.9 1.6
3.4
0.16
131150006 Rome
Floyd Kraftsman 8508 6.8 5.5 21 14 33.1 23.6 21.6 85.6
0.91
131210055 Atlanta
Fulton Confeder- 8500
2.9
2.5 6.1 5.6 8.5 8.3 7.4
35.5
1.18
ate Ave.
132450091 Augusta
Richmond
Augusta
8553
8.3 8.1 26.5 25.3 68.3 49.8 34.8 114.3
0.98
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report
79
Ambient Monitoring Program
Primary NAAQS: Secondary NAAQS:
National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter PM2.5 3-year average of the annual weighted mean not to exceed 12.0g/m3 3-year average of the 98th percentile of 24-hour concentration not to exceed 35g/m3 3-year average of the annual weighted mean not to exceed 15.0g/m3 3-year average of the 98th percentile of 24-hour concentration not to exceed 35g/m3
Pollutant: Data Interval:
Site ID 130210007
Criteria Pollutant Summary Report - 2017
Particulate Matter PM2.5 24-Hour
Units: Micrograms per cubic meter (g/m3 )
98th% and Annual Arithmetic Mean
Integrated Sampling (midnight to midnight) Using Federal Reference Method
Values
Annual
City
County
Site Name
Days Measured
98th
Percentile
Exceeding Applicable
Daily Standard
Arithmetic
Mean
Macon
Bibb
Macon-Allied
117
18.4
0
9.61
130210012
Macon
Bibb
Macon-Forestry 118
15.1
130510091
Savannah
Chatham
Savannah-
111
16.4
Mercer
130590002
Athens
Clarke
Athens
119
15.7
0
7.11
0
8.14
0
7.79
130630091 Forest Park
Clayton
Forest Park
115
19.1
0
9.67
130670003 Kennesaw
Cobb
Kennesaw
119
17.8
0
8.78
130690002 General Coffee Douglas General Coffee
96
17.2
0
7.40
130890002
Decatur
DeKalb
South DeKalb
122
20.9
0
8.98
130950007
Albany
Dougherty
Albany
122
25.4
1
9.43
131150003
Rome
Floyd
Rome
3
9.7
0
7.23
131210039
Atlanta
Fulton
Fire Station #8
118
18.3
0
9.77
131210056
Atlanta
Fulton
NR-GA Tech
114
21.6
0
10.38
131270006 Brunswick
Glynn
Brunswick
107
17.1
0
7.46
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report
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Ambient Monitoring Program
Primary NAAQS: Secondary NAAQS:
National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter PM2.5 3-year average of the annual weighted mean not to exceed 12.0g/m3 3-year average of the 98th percentile of 24-hour concentration not to exceed 35g/m3 3-year average of the annual weighted mean not to exceed 15.0g/m3 3-year average of the 98th percentile of 24-hour concentration not to exceed 35g/m3
Pollutant: Data Interval:
Site ID
Criteria Pollutant Summary Report - 2017
Particulate Matter PM2.5 24-Hour
Units: Micrograms per cubic meter (g/m3 )
98th% and Annual Arithmetic Mean
Integrated Sampling (midnight to midnight) Using Federal Reference Method
Values
City
County
Site Name
Days Measured
98th Percentile
Exceeding Applicable
Annual Arithmetic
Daily Stand-
Mean
ard
131350002 Lawrenceville Gwinnett Gwinnett Tech
109
15.9
0
8.50
131390003
Gainesville
Hall
Gainesville
121
15.2
0
7.47
131530001 Warner Robins Houston Warner Robins
115
15.8
0
8.26
131850003
Valdosta
Lowndes
Valdosta
118
20.7
1
8.18
Columbus-
132150001
Columbus
Muscogee
Health Dept.
117
20.0
0
9.30
Columbus
132150008
Columbus
Muscogee
Airport
121
20.5
0
9.00
Columbus-
132150011
Columbus
Muscogee
Cusseta
122
34.0
0
9.70
132230003
Yorkville
Paulding
Yorkville
11
12.6
0
5.55
132450091
Augusta
Richmond
Augusta
120
20.6
0
9.07
132950002
Rossville
Walker
Rossville
109
18.9
0
8.51
133030001
Sandersville
Washing-
Sandersville
122
24.0
0
8.59
ton
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report
81
Ambient Monitoring Program
Pollutant: Data Interval:
Pollutant Summary Report - 2017
Particulate Matter PM2.5 1-Hour
Units: Micrograms per cubic meter (g/m3 )
Hourly Averages of PM2.5 with Federal Equivalent Method (FEM)
Hours Meas-
Site ID
City
County
Site Name
1st Max
ured
130210012*
Macon
Bibb Macon-Forestry
130511002* Savannah
Chatham Savannah-L&A
130890002
Decatur
DeKalb South DeKalb
130950007
Albany
Dougherty
Albany
131350002* Lawrenceville Gwinnett Gwinnett Tech
2192 1215 8185 6978 1469
131390003* Gainesville 132450091* Augusta 132950002* Rossville
Hall Richmond
Walker
Gainesville Augusta Rossville
2114 2112 2094
54.1 71.6 46.6 132.0 45.3 31.4 62.0 47.7
2nd Max
Annual Arithmetic Mean
53.2 50.9 45.3 107.0 44.1 29.2 59.2 43.9
9.41 10.93 8.41 9.56 12.62 8.76 11.21 10.69
*partial year of data, as method changed
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report
82
Ambient Monitoring Program
Pollutant: Data Interval:
Pollutant Summary Report - 2017
Particulate Matter PM2.5 1-Hour
Units: Micrograms per cubic meter (g/m3 )
Hourly Averages of PM2.5with Non-FEM Method
Site ID
Hours Meas-
City
County
Site Name
1st Max
ured
130210012*
Macon
Bibb Macon-Forestry 5879
130511002* Savannah
Chatham Savannah-L&A
130590002
Athens
131210055
Atlanta
131350002* Lawrenceville
Clarke Fulton Gwinnett
Athens Confederate
Avenue
Gwinnett Tech
7092 8597 8487 6862
131390003* Gainesville
Hall
Gainesville
3018
131510002 McDonough
Henry
McDonough
7498
131530001 Warner Robins Houston Warner Robins 7143
131850003 Valdosta 132150008 Columbus 132450091* Augusta
Lowndes Muscogee Richmond
Valdosta
ColumbusAirport
Augusta
7643 8490 5998
132950002* Rossville
Walker
Rossville
5085
45.2 129.8 177.0 298.1 103.3 124.0 122.6 82.0 166.0 87.5 143.0 320.0
2nd Max
Annual Arithmetic Mean
41.6 77.4 172.2 88.7 84.1 84.0 52.1 72.0 134.0 80.0 110.1 239.0
7.18 7.92 7.79 11.25 7.38 9.75 7.97 9.19 10.51 8.38 7.62 9.48
*partial year of data, as method changed
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report
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Ambient Monitoring Program
Primary NAAQS: Secondary NAAQS:
National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter PM10 Number of days with a maximum of 24-hour concentration of 150g/m3 must not exceed more than once per year on average over 3 years
Same as the Primary Standards
Pollutant: Data Interval:
Site ID
Criteria Pollutant Summary Report - 2017
Particulate Matter PM10 24-Hour
Units: Micrograms per cubic meter (g/m3 )
24-Hour Integrated Measurements
Annual
City
County
Site Name
Days Measured
1st Max
Number Values >150
Arithmetic Mean
131210039
Atlanta
Fulton
Fire Station #8
56
33
0
15.6
132450091 Augusta Richmond
Augusta
58
475*
1
23.3
*house fire nearby site, causing unusually high value
Site ID 130890002
Hourly Continuous Measurements
City Decatur
County DeKalb
Site Name South DeKalb
Hours Measured 8002
1st Max 47
Annual Arithmetic Mean
16.9
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report
84
Ambient Monitoring Program
Primary NAAQS: Secondary NAAQS:
National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Lead Rolling 3-month average not to exceed 0.15 g/m3 Same as the Primary Standard
Pollutant: Data Interval:
Lead 24-Hour
Criteria Pollutant Summary Report - 2017 Units: Micrograms per cubic meter (g/m3 )
Site ID City
County Site Name Number of Obs. Nov 2016-Jan 2017 Dec 2016-Feb 2017 Jan 2017-Mar 2017 Feb 2017-Apr 2017 Mar 2017-May 2017 Apr 2017-Jun 2017 May 2017-Jul 2017 Jun 2017-Aug 2017 Jul 2017-Sep 2017 Aug 2017-Oct 2017 Sep 2017-Nov 2017 Oct 2017-Dec 2017 # of Values > 0.15
132150009 Columbus Muscogee Columbus-Allied
71 0.3592 0.0178 0.0221 0.0399 0.0443 0.0376 0.0155 0.0158 0.0371 0.0389 0.0426 0.0287
1
132150010 Columbus Muscogee Columbus-Joy Road
71 0.0228 0.0121 0.0119 0.0145 0.0151 0.0160 0.0107 0.0109 0.0163 0.0229 0.0258 0.0221
0
132150011 Columbus Muscogee Columbus-Cusseta
68 0.0669 0.0052 0.0036 0.0034 0.0036 0.0028 0.0023 0.0020 0.0043 0.0055 0.0072 0.0062
0
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report
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Ambient Monitoring Program
Name PAMSHC TNMOC Ethane Ethylene Propane Propylene Acetylene n-Butane Isobutane trans-2-Butene cis-2-Butene n-Pentane Isopentane 1-Pentene trans-2-Pentene cis-2-Pentene 3-Methylpentane n-Hexane n-Heptane n-Octane
PAMS Continuous Hydrocarbon Data (June-August 2017)
(concentrations in parts per billion Carbon (ppbC))
Site
#Samples
Avg.
1st Max
S. DeKalb
1194
45.14
182.50
S. DeKalb
1198
52.41
210.30
S. DeKalb
1198
4.675
17.71
S. DeKalb
1198
1.768
10.03
S. DeKalb
1198
3.908
54.20
S. DeKalb
1198
0.923
3.85
S. DeKalb
1198
0.490
7.30
S. DeKalb
1198
1.707
8.41
S. DeKalb
1198
0.854
5.11
S. DeKalb
1198
0.092
17.21
S. DeKalb
1198
0.054
0.34
S. DeKalb
1198
2.277
17.59
S. DeKalb
1198
3.480
18.43
S. DeKalb
1198
0.098
0.40
S. DeKalb
1198
0.091
1.94
S. DeKalb
1198
0.041
0.30
S. DeKalb
1198
0.463
2.94
S. DeKalb
1198
0.859
4.79
S. DeKalb
1198
0.374
1.85
S. DeKalb
1198
0.098
0.60
2nd Max 176.80 209.50 16.45
9.01 21.29 3.10 5.20 8.37 4.95 8.79 0.32 15.32 18.04 0.40 0.67 0.29 2.94 4.67 1.77 0.58
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report
86
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Name n-Nonane n-Decane
PAMS Continuous Hydrocarbon Data (June-August 2017)(continued)
(concentrations in ppbC)
Site
#Samples
Avg.
1st Max
S. DeKalb
1198
0.090
0.58
S. DeKalb
1198
0.115
1.19
Cyclopentane Isoprene
2,2-Dimethylbutane 2,4-Dimethylpentane
Cyclohexane 3-Methylhexane 2,2,4-Trimethylpentane
S. DeKalb S. DeKalb S. DeKalb S. DeKalb S. DeKalb S. DeKalb S. DeKalb
1198 1198 1198 1198 1198 1198 1198
0.326 5.344 0.069 0.177 0.154 0.531 0.876
7.08 31.19 1.01 1.35 3.10 2.98 5.45
2,3,4-Trimethylpentane
S. DeKalb
1198
0.242
1.55
3-Methylheptane
S. DeKalb
1198
0.138
0.85
Methylcyclohexane
S. DeKalb
1198
0.283
1.63
Methylcyclopentane
S. DeKalb
1198
0.412
7.39
2-Methylhexane
S. DeKalb
1198
0.376
2.68
1-Butene
S. DeKalb
1198
0.327
1.03
2,3-Dimethylbutane
S. DeKalb
1198
0.133
1.00
2-Methylpentane
S. DeKalb
1198
0.573
3.37
2,3-Dimethylpentane
S. DeKalb
1198
0.277
1.51
n-Undecane
S. DeKalb
1198
0.153
5.69
2-Methylheptane
S. DeKalb
1940
0.122
0.97
2nd Max 0.39 1.08 6.92 29.18 0.42 1.14 0.97 2.91 5.03 1.53 0.83 1.61 2.44 2.03 0.83 0.85 3.30 1.47 2.04 0.90
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report
87
Ambient Monitoring Program
PAMS Continuous Hydrocarbon Data (June-August 2017) (continued)
(concentrations in ppbC)
Name
Site
#Samples
Avg.
1st Max
m & p Xylenes
S. DeKalb
1198
1.046
6.99
Benzene
S. DeKalb
1198
0.773
4.61
Toluene
S. DeKalb
1198
2.589
17.40
Ethylbenzene
S. DeKalb
1198
0.349
2.35
o-Xylene
S. DeKalb
1198
0.407
2.76
1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene
S. DeKalb
1198
0.183
2.76
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene
S. DeKalb
1198
0.405
2.42
n-Propylbenzene
S. DeKalb
1198
0.078
1.13
Isopropylbenzene
S. DeKalb
1198
0.038
0.31
o-Ethyltoluene
S. DeKalb
1198
0.135
0.68
m-Ethyltoluene
S. DeKalb
1198
2.141
25.23
m-Diethylbenzene
S. DeKalb
1198
0.151
1.69
p-Diethylbenzene
S. DeKalb
1198
0.126
0.84
Styrene
S. DeKalb
1198
0.248
1.59
1,2,3-Trimethylbenzene
S. DeKalb
1198
3.276
13.82
p-Ethyltoluene
S. DeKalb
1198
0.220
5.50
2nd Max 6.98 3.60 15.95 2.12 2.51 1.00 2.41 0.80 0.31 0.66 16.29 1.51 0.76 1.50 13.59 4.22
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report
88
Ambient Monitoring Program
Name PAMSHC
TNMOC Ethane Ethylene Propane Propylene Acetylene n-Butane Isobutane trans-2-Butene cis-2-Butene n-Pentane Isopentane 1-Pentene
PAMS 2017 24-hour Canister Hydrocarbons
(concentrations in parts per billion Carbon (ppbC))
Site
#Samples
Avg.
1st Max
S. DeKalb
56
S. DeKalb
54
90.02 320.37
260.0 4300.0
S. DeKalb
56
7.18
21.0
S. DeKalb
56
0.0
0.0
S. DeKalb
56
6.21
17.0
S. DeKalb
56
0.87
2.3
S. DeKalb
56
1.80
4.9
S. DeKalb
56
5.98
25.0
S. DeKalb
56
1.58
5.8
S. DeKalb
56
0.06
0.6
S. DeKalb
56
0.02
0.4
S. DeKalb
56
7.63
120.0
S. DeKalb
56
4.90
15.0
S. DeKalb
56
0.25
1.1
2nd Max 240.0 1900.0 19.0
0.0 15.0 2.2 4.3 16.0 5.3 0.4 0.3 70.0 14.0 1.1
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report
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Ambient Monitoring Program
Name
PAMS 2017 24-hour Canister Hydrocarbons (continued) (concentrations in ppbC)
Site
#Samples
Avg.
1st Max
trans-2-Pentene
S. DeKalb
56
cis-2-Pentene
S. DeKalb
56
3-Methylpentane
S. DeKalb
56
n-Hexane
S. DeKalb
56
n-Heptane
S. DeKalb
56
n-Octane
S. DeKalb
56
n-Nonane
S. DeKalb
56
n-Decane
S. DeKalb
56
Cyclopentane
S. DeKalb
56
Isoprene
S. DeKalb
56
2,2-Dimethylbutane
S. DeKalb
56
2,4-Dimethylpentane
S. DeKalb
56
Cyclohexane
S. DeKalb
56
3-Methylhexane
S. DeKalb
56
0.17
1.7
0.13
2.7
1.12
4.2
1.24
7.9
0.53
1.5
0.16
0.6
0.15
0.6
0.26
5.3
0.20
1.3
3.44
13.0
0.35
2.2
0.22
0.9
0.34
4.7
0.71
1.9
2nd Max
0.8 1.6 3.4 3.3 1.3 0.5 0.6 0.8 1.0 12.0 2.1 0.9 1.1 1.8
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report
90
Ambient Monitoring Program
Name
PAMS 2017 24-hour Canister Hydrocarbons (continued) (concentrations in ppbC)
Site
#Samples
Avg.
1st Max
2,2,4-Trimethylpentane
S. DeKalb
56
1.50
6.2
2,3,4-Trimethylpentane
S. DeKalb
56
0.28
1.0
3-Methylheptane
S. DeKalb
56
0.09
0.6
Methylcyclohexane
S. DeKalb
56
0.38
1.0
Methylcyclopentane
S. DeKalb
56
0.59
3.1
2-Methylhexane
S. DeKalb
56
0.48
1.5
1-Butene
S. DeKalb
56
0.30
1.1
2,3-Dimenthylbutane
S. DeKalb
55
0.38
1.2
2-Methylpentane
S. DeKalb
56
1.51
4.0
2,3-Dimethylpentane
S. DeKalb
56
0.41
1.0
n-Undecane
S. DeKalb
56
0.61
16.0
2-Methylheptane
S. DeKalb
56
m & p Xylenes
S. DeKalb
56
Benzene
S. DeKalb
56
0.09
0.6
1.55
4.7
1.73
12.0
2ndMax 5.8 1.0 0.4 0.9 1.4 1.5 0.8 1.2 3.9 1.0 3.0 0.5 4.6 3.7
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report
91
Ambient Monitoring Program
Name
PAMS 2017 24-hour Canister Hydrocarbons (continued)
(concentrations in ppbC)
Site
#Samples
Avg.
1st Max
Toluene
S. DeKalb
56
3.43
10.0
Ethylbenzene
S. DeKalb
56
0.54
1.5
o-Xylene
S. DeKalb
56
0.68
2.0
1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene
S. DeKalb
56
0.23
0.9
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene
S. DeKalb
56
19.20
71.0
n-Propylbenzene
S. DeKalb
56
Isopropylbenzene
S. DeKalb
56
o-Ethyltoluene
S. DeKalb
56
m-Ethyltoluene p-Ethyltoluene
S. DeKalb
56
S. DeKalb
56
m-Diethylbenzene
S. DeKalb
56
p-Diethylbenzene
S. DeKalb
56
Styrene
S. DeKalb
56
1,2,3-Trimethylbenzene
S. DeKalb
56
0.03
0.4
0.00
0.2
0.32
1.3
0.47
1.5
0.56
1.6
0.56
2.2
0.09
0.7
2.45
12.0
0.23
2.0
2ndMax 9.5 1.4 1.9 0.8 64.0 0.4 0.0 1.0 1.5 1.4 2.0 0.5 10.0 0.7
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report
92
Ambient Monitoring Program
Name Antimony
Arsenic Beryllium Cadmium Chromium
Cobalt
2017 Metals
(concentrations in micrograms per cubic meter (g/m3))
Site
#Samples
Avg.
1st Max
Macon-Forestry
29
0.0008
0.002
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
27
0.0013
0.006
General Coffee
23
0.0003
0.001
South DeKalb*
61
0.0026
0.013
Macon-Forestry
29
0.0007
0.003
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
26
0.0008
0.005
General Coffee
23
South DeKalb*
61
Macon-Forestry
29
0.0005 0.0007 0.0000
0.001 0.002 0.000
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
27
0.0000
0.000
General Coffee
22
South DeKalb*
61
0.0000 0.0000
0.000 0.000
Macon-Forestry
29
0.0000
0.000
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
27
0.0001
0.001
General Coffee
23
0.0000
0.000
South DeKalb*
61
0.0001
0.000
Macon-Forestry
23
0.0091
0.056
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
18
0.0045
0.034
General Coffee
22
0.0125
0.047
South DeKalb*
45
0.0120
0.050
Macon-Forestry
29
0.0000
0.000
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
27
0.0000
0.000
General Coffee
23
0.0000
0.001
South DeKalb*
61
0.0001
0.000
2nd Max 0.002 0.003 0.001 0.011 0.002 0.002 0.001 0.002 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.000 0.000 0.045 0.004 0.041 0.046 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report
93
Ambient Monitoring Program
Name Lead Manganese Nickel Selenium Zinc
2017 Metals (continued) (concentrations in g/m3)
Site
#Samples
Avg.
Macon-Forestry
29
0.0021
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
26
General Coffee
23
South DeKalb*
61
0.0032 0.0012 0.0020
Macon-Forestry
29
0.0089
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
27
General Coffee
23
South DeKalb*
61
Macon-Forestry
29
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
27
General Coffee
23
South DeKalb*
61
0.0109 0.0040 0.0041 0.0010 0.0012 0.0014 0.0007
Macon-Forestry
29
0.0003
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
26
0.0001
General Coffee
23
0.0000
South DeKalb*
61
0.0001
Macon-Forestry
9
0.0204
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
5
General Coffee
5
0.0264 0.0102
South DeKalb*
21
0.0117
*Sample collected every 6 days.
1st Max 0.006 0.014 0.006 0.012 0.042 0.051 0.010 0.017 0.004 0.004 0.003 0.001 0.001 0.002 0.001 0.001 0.046 0.062 0.015 0.043
2nd Max 0.006 0.010 0.002 0.007 0.016 0.021 0.009 0.013 0.002 0.002 0.003 0.001 0.001 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.040 0.027 0.012 0.023
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report
94
Ambient Monitoring Program
Name Acenaphthene Acenaphthylene
Anthracene Benzo(a)anthracene
Benzo(a)pyrene Benzo(b)fluoranthene
Benzo(e)pyrene
2017 Semi-Volatile Compounds (concentrations in g/m3)
Site
#Samples
Avg.**
Macon-Forestry
24
0.0040
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
21
0.0022
General Coffee
19
0.0096
South DeKalb*
59
0.0015
Macon-Forestry
24
0.0001
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
19
0.0003
General Coffee South DeKalb*
19
0.0005
56
0.0002
Macon-Forestry
24
0.0001
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
21
0.0000
General Coffee
19
0.0000
South DeKalb*
59
0.0001
Macon-Forestry
24
0.0000
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
21
0.0000
General Coffee
19
0.0002
South DeKalb*
59
0.0000
Macon-Forestry
24
0.0000
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
21
0.0000
General Coffee
19
0.0000
South DeKalb*
59
0.0000
Macon-Forestry
24
0.0001
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
21
0.0002
General Coffee
19
0.0000
South DeKalb*
59
0.0001
Macon-Forestry
24
0.0000
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
21
0.0001
General Coffee
19
0.0000
South DeKalb*
59
0.0001
1st Max 0.010 0.005 0.004 0.010 0.001 0.003 0.002 0.002 0.001 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.001 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.002 0.000 0.001 0.000 0.001 0.000 0.000
2nd Max 0.009 0.004 0.003 0.006 0.000 0.001 0.001 0.002 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report
95
Ambient Monitoring Program
Name Benzo(g,h,i)perylene Benzo(k)fluoranthene
Chrysene Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene
Fluoranthene Fluorene
Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene
2017 Semi-Volatile Compounds (continued) (concentrations in g/m3)
Site
#Samples Avg.**
Macon-Forestry
24
0.0000
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
21
0.0001
General Coffee
19
South DeKalb*
59
Macon-Forestry
24
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
21
0.0000 0.0001 0.0000 0.0000
General Coffee
19
0.0000
South DeKalb*
59
0.0000
Macon-Forestry
24
0.0001
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
21
0.0001
General Coffee
19
0.0006
South DeKalb*
59
0.0000
Macon-Forestry
24
0.0000
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
21
0.0000
General Coffee South DeKalb* Macon-Forestry
19
0.0000
59
0.0000
24
0.0013
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
21
General Coffee
19
0.0009 0.0021
South DeKalb*
59
0.0006
Macon-Forestry
24
0.0029
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
21
0.0002
General Coffee
19
0.0019
South DeKalb*
59
0.0004
Macon-Forestry
24
0.0000
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
21
0.0001
General Coffee
19
0.0000
South DeKalb*
59
0.0001
1st Max 0.000 0.001 0.000 0.001 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.002 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.000 0.000 0.005 0.002 0.007 0.002 0.006 0.004 0.006 0.003 0.000 0.001 0.000 0.000
2nd Max 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.004 0.002 0.005 0.002 0.006 0.004 0.003 0.003 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report
96
Ambient Monitoring Program
Name Naphthalene
Phenanthrene
Pyrene Perylene
2017 Semi-Volatile Compounds (continued) (concentrations in g/m3)
Site
#Samples
Avg.**
Macon-Forestry
24
0.0283
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
21
0.0250
General Coffee
19
0.0096
South DeKalb*
58
0.0437
Macon-Forestry
24
0.0065
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
21
0.0004
General Coffee
19
0.0049
South DeKalb*
59
0.0003
Macon-Forestry
24
0.0005
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
21
0.0004
General Coffee
19
0.0026
South DeKalb* South DeKalb*
59
0.0004
59
0.0000
1st Max 0.054 0.056 0.023 0.130 0.018 0.008 0.015 0.010 0.002 0.001 0.009 0.001 0.000
2nd Max 0.045 0.046 0.020 0.120 0.018 0.008 0.010 0.008 0.001 0.001 0.007 0.001 0.000
*Sample collected every 6 days.
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report
97
Ambient Monitoring Program
Name Freon 113 Freon 114 1,3-Butadiene Cyclohexane Chloromethane Dichloromethane
2017 Volatile Organic Compounds
(concentrations in ppbC)
Site
#Samples
Avg.
Macon-Forestry
29
0.12
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.12
General Coffee
30
0.12
South DeKalb*
58
0.12
NR-285
28
0.12
Macon-Forestry
29
0.02
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.01
General Coffee
30
0.01
South DeKalb*
58
0.01
NR-285
28
0.02
Macon-Forestry
29
0.00
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.00
General Coffee
30
0.00
South DeKalb*
58
0.00
NR-285
28
0.00
Macon-Forestry
29
0.18
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.11
General Coffee
30
0.01
South DeKalb*
58
0.07
NR-285
28
0.10
Macon-Forestry
29
0.53
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.69
General Coffee
30
0.61
South DeKalb*
58
0.51
NR-285
28
0.54
Macon-Forestry
29
0.13
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.13
General Coffee
30
0.11
South DeKalb*
58
0.13
NR-285
28
0.13
1st Max 0.2
0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.4 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.1 1.7 0.7 0.7 0.5 0.4 0.2 0.6 0.3
2nd Max 0.2
0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.8 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.6 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.7 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report
98
Ambient Monitoring Program
Name Chloroform Carbon tetrachloride Trichlorofluoromethane Chloroethane 1,1-Dichloroethane Methyl chloroform
2017 Volatile Organic Compounds (continued) (concentrations in ppbC)
Site
#Samples
Avg.
Macon-Forestry
29
0.00
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
General Coffee
30
South DeKalb*
58
NR-285
28
Macon-Forestry
29
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
General Coffee
30
South DeKalb*
58
NR-285
28
0.00 0.03 0.01 0.00 0.09 0.10 0.09 0.09 0.10
Macon-Forestry
29
0.21
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.20
General Coffee South DeKalb*
NR-285
30
0.20
58
0.22
28
0.20
Macon-Forestry
29
0.01
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.01
General Coffee
30
0.05
South DeKalb*
58
0.01
NR-285
28
0.01
Macon-Forestry
29
0.00
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.00
General Coffee
30
0.00
South DeKalb*
58
0.00
NR-285
28
0.00
Macon-Forestry
29
0.00
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.00
General Coffee
30
0.00
South DeKalb* NR-285
58
0.00
28
0.00
1st Max 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.2 0.1
0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
2nd Max 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.1
0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report
99
Ambient Monitoring Program
Name Ethylene dichloride Tetrachloroethylene 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane
Bromomethane 1,1,2-Trichloroethane Dichlorodifluoromethane
0.02017 Volatile Organic Compounds (continued)
(concentrations in ppbC)
Site
#Samples
Avg.
Macon-Forestry
29
0.03
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.01
General Coffee
30
0.01
South DeKalb*
58
0.02
NR-285
28
0.02
Macon-Forestry
29
0.00
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.01
General Coffee
30
0.00
South DeKalb*
58
0.01
NR-285
28
0.01
Macon-Forestry
29
0.00
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.00
General Coffee
30
0.00
South DeKalb*
58
0.00
NR-285
28
0.00
Macon-Forestry
29
0.00
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.00
General Coffee
30
0.00
South DeKalb*
58
0.00
NR-285
28
0.00
Macon-Forestry
29
0.00
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.00
General Coffee South DeKalb*
NR-285
30
0.00
58
0.00
28
0.00
Macon-Forestry
29
0.42
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.46
General Coffee
30
0.43
South DeKalb*
58
0.44
NR-285
28
0.44
1st Max 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.6
0.6 0.5 0.6
0.6
2nd Max 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5
0.5 0.5 0.6
0.5
2017 Ambient Air Surveillance Report
100
Ambient Monitoring Program
Name Trichloroethylene
2017 Volatile Organic Compounds (continued)
(concentrations in ppbC)
Site
#Samples
Avg.
Macon-Forestry
29
0.00
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.00
General Coffee
30
0.00
South DeKalb*
58
0.00
NR-285
28
0.00
Macon-Forestry
29
0.00
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.08
1,1-Dichloroethylene
General Coffee
30
0.00
South DeKalb*
58
0.00
NR-285
28
0.00
Macon-Forestry
29
0.01
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.01
1,2-Dichloropropane
General Coffee
30
0.01
South DeKalb*
58
0.01
NR-285
28
0.01
Macon-Forestry
29
0.00
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.00
trans-1,3-Dichloropropene
General Coffee
30
0.00
South DeKalb*
58
0.00
NR-285
28
0.00
Macon-Forestry
29
0.00
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.00
cis-1,3-Dichloropropene
General Coffee
30
0.00
South DeKalb*
58
0.00
NR-285
28
0.00
Macon-Forestry
29
0.00
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.00
cis-1,2-Dichloroethene
General Coffee
30
0.00
South DeKalb*
58
0.00
NR-285
28
0.00
1st Max 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
0.2 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
2nd Max 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
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Name Ethylene dibromide Hexachlorobutadiene
Vinyl chloride m/p Xylene
Benzene Toluene
2017 Volatile Organic Compounds (continued)
(concentrations in ppbC)
Site
#Samples
Avg.
Macon-Forestry
29
0.00
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.00
General Coffee South DeKalb*
NR-285
30
0.00
58
0.00
28
0.00
Macon-Forestry
29
0.00
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.00
General Coffee South DeKalb*
NR-285 Macon-Forestry
30
0.01
58
0.00
28
0.00
29
0.00
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.00
General Coffee
30
0.00
South DeKalb*
58
0.00
NR-285
28
0.00
Macon-Forestry
29
0.29
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.34
General Coffee
30
0.02
South DeKalb*
58
0.54
NR-285
28
0.51
Macon-Forestry
29
0.56
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.69
General Coffee
30
0.54
South DeKalb*
58
1.07
NR-285
28
1.05
Macon-Forestry
29
0.90
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.88
General Coffee
30
0.17
South DeKalb*
58
1.50
NR-285
28
1.92
1st Max 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1
0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 2.4 0.2 2.7
1.4
1.5 2.4 2.0 3.0 2.0 2.6 7.7 0.4 7.0 16.8
2nd Max 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.8 0.1 2.2
1.4
1.2 1.2 1.1 2.9 2.0 2.2 2.1 0.3 6.4 3.7
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Name Ethylbenzene
o- Xylene
1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene
Styrene Benzene,1-ethenyl-4-
methyl
2017 Volatile Organic Compounds (continued)
(concentrations in ppbC)
Site
#Samples
Avg.
Macon-Forestry
29
0.17
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.09
General Coffee
30
0.00
South DeKalb*
58
0.16
NR-285
28
0.15
Macon-Forestry
29
0.16
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.11
General Coffee
30
0.00
South DeKalb*
58
0.22
NR-285
28
0.18
Macon-Forestry
29
0.00
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.00
General Coffee
30
0.00
South DeKalb*
58
0.02
NR-285
28
0.01
Macon-Forestry
29
0.06
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.08
General Coffee
30
0.00
South DeKalb*
58
0.21
NR-285
28
0.17
Macon-Forestry
29
0.80
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.01
General Coffee
30
0.00
South DeKalb*
58
0.66
NR-285
28
0.03
Macon-Forestry
29
0.00
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.00
General Coffee
30
0.00
South DeKalb*
58
0.03
NR-285
28
0.01
1st Max 0.5 0.6 0.1 0.7 0.4 0.4 0.8 0.1 1.0 0.4 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.5 0.0 1.1 0.5 2.6 0.1 0.1 5.5 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.3 0.1
2nd Max 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.6 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.0 0.8 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.0 0.7 0.4 1.7 0.1 0.0 5.3 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.1
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Name Chlorobenzene 1,2-Dichlorobenzene 1,3-Dichlorobenzene 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Benzyl chloride 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene
2017 Volatile Organic Compounds (continued)
(concentrations in ppbC)
Site
#Samples
Avg.
Macon-Forestry
29
0.03
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.03
General Coffee
30
0.05
South DeKalb*
58
0.03
NR-285
28
0.02
Macon-Forestry
29
0.02
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.01
General Coffee
30
0.01
South DeKalb*
58
0.01
NR-285
28
0.01
Macon-Forestry
29
0.06
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.01
General Coffee
30
0.01
South DeKalb*
58
0.02
NR-285
28
0.01
Macon-Forestry
29
0.04
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
General Coffee
30
South DeKalb*
58
NR-285
28
Macon-Forestry
29
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.02 0.02 0.10 0.08 0.01 0.01
General Coffee
30
0.01
South DeKalb*
58
0.01
NR-285
28
0.00
Macon-Forestry
29
0.05
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.05
General Coffee
30
0.08
South DeKalb*
58
0.04
NR-285
28
0.04
*Sample collected every 6 days
1st Max 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1
0.1
0.1 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1
2nd Max 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
0.1
0.1 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1
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Site ID
City
130890003 131210056
Decatur Atlanta
2017 Black Carbon
(concentrations in micrograms per cubic meter)
County
Site Name
Hours Measured
Annual Mean
DeKalb
NR-285
8704
2.225
Fulton NR-GA Tech 8715
2.146
1st Max 2nd Max
249.78 16.88
249.78 13.45
Name Formaldehyde Acetaldehyde Butyraldehyde
2017 Carbonyl Compounds, 8-hour
(concentrations in ppbC)
Site
#Samples
Avg.
South DeKalb
81
2.09
South DeKalb
81
1.01
South DeKalb
81
0.5017
1st Max 6.7 2.5
2.481
2nd Max 6.0 2.5
2.140
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2017 Carbonyl Compounds, 24-hour
(concentrations in ppbC)
Name
Site
#Samples Avg.
Formaldehyde
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
26
0.30
South DeKalb*
57
1.39
Acetaldehyde
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
26
0.15
South DeKalb*
57
1.14
Propionaldehyde
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
26
0.01
South DeKalb*
57
1.17
Butyraldehyde
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
26
South DeKalb*
57
0.0119 0.3157
Acetone
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
26
0.60
South DeKalb*
57
1.23
Benzaldehyde
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
26
0.03
South DeKalb*
57
0.11
Savannah-E. Pres. St.
28
0.44
NR-285
28
0.46
Acrolein (with canister method)
Macon
29
0.80
General Coffee
30
0.37
South DeKalb*
58
0.53
1st Max 0.7 3.9 0.3 2.7 0.1 7.4
0.060 1.975
1.5 5.4 0.3 0.7 1.2 1.4 1.8 0.9 1.5
2nd Max 0.5 3.0 0.3 2.2 0.1 6.2
0.048 1.888
1.5 5.3 0.1 0.6 0.8 1.1 1.4 0.7 1.1
* Sample collected every 6 days
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