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CRITERIA AIR POLLUTANT TRENDS
Based on EPA Estimates:
Source: EPA AirData: Emissions by Category Report-Criteria Air Pollutants
The graph above shows that according to EPA estimates the Criteria Air Emissions as they track them (not including Ozone, and including the additional sources of VOC and Ammonia) have been declining here in Essex County. There has been a 19% decrease in overall Criteria air emissions between 1985 and 1999. In fact, this change is probably greater since Ammonia and PM2.5 were not included in the numbers prior to 1990. The change in total emissions since 1990 until 1999 shows a slight increase of 11%. This was primarily due to increases in CO from Area Sources – of which Light Duty Gasoline Trucks were the largest category increase, up 78% (24,735 tons) in 1999 over 1990 levels, followed by Non-Road Gasoline Engines up 50% (15,823 tons) over 1990 levels.
Based on Actual Air Monitoring:
Essex County Air Quality – Criteria Air Pollutant Monitoring
Based on the actual monitoring data, each of the criteria air pollutants met their respective EPA Air Quality standards except Ozone (O3). In addition, it should be noted that Carbon Monoxide (CO) is not monitored in Essex County, and that monitoring of SO2 and Lead have been terminated in Essex County. These have all met the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Monitoring of PM2.5 has replaced monitoring of PM10.
Note that there was only one air quality monitor in any of the 3 target communities – located in Marblehead, this monitor tracked Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) only, and the most recent EPA data only shows results for 1995 and 1996, both years having no exceedances of the limit. The monitors that are used for this report are located in Lawrence, Lynn, Peabody, Newbury, and Haverhill.
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