This section is devoted to sources of pollution in your neighborhoods. Air pollution-sensitive groups include children, the elderly, those with compromised heart or lungs, athletes and outdoor workers who perform strenuous activities.
Idling your car in the driveway needlessly, burning leaves, using inefficient wood burning stoves or fireplaces, or burning trash in a backyard barrel could send a person living across the street, next door, or someone in your household to the doctor or emergency room. Do your part to care for those in your neighborhood. Reduce unnecessary air pollution.
Clearing the Air â Good News for Public Health & Iowaâs Economy
While you play your part in clearing the air in Iowa, large industries have improved air quality dramaticallyâdecreasing pollution emissions from six common air pollutants by 41 percent since 1990. While individual companies may increase emissions as they expand, they must continue to meet state and federal air quality standards. Over the last 25 years, Iowa companies added more efficient equipment and switched to less polluting energy sourcesâimproving Iowaâs air quality while continuing to grow our economy.
Even better news, two air pollutants that contribute to groundâlevel ozone and airborne particlesâthe pollutants that pose the greatest threat to human healthâhave decreased significantly. Sulfur dioxide emissions are down 60 percent and nitrogen oxides are down 43 percent.
At the same time, Iowaâs gross domestic product soared (up by 210 percent), energy consumption increased by 59 percent, vehicle miles traveled climbed by 43 percent and population gained by 12 percent. Attaining good air quality protects public health, allows existing facilities to expand and attracts new industry to Iowa.
Neighborhood Air Quality Topics
Why should communities plan for air quality in a state that has experienced relatively few exceedances of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency health standards?
Because health standards are being strengthened due to mounting evidence that humans and the environment are impacted by pollution more than previously believed. Every voluntary action to reduce pollution keeps our communitiesâ air cleaner, which in turn contributes to a healthier place to live, both economically and environmentally.
The objectives are to:
Provide recommendations on situations to avoid when siting new residences, schools, day care centers, playground, medical-related facilities, and industrial parks
Identify approaches that land use agencies can use to prevent or reduce potential air pollution impacts
Improve and facilitate access to air quality data and evaluation tools for land use decision-making
Encourage stronger collaboration between land use agencies and local and state air quality agencies to reduce community exposure to pollution impacts
Communicate air quality consequences in land use decision-making.
Thereâs no doubt that community leaders influence citizens. if they model good environment protection planning and practices, residents and businesses will follow their lead.
Ozone Advance is an EPA program designed to help communities meeting ozone health standards to continue to meet ozone health standards as the communities grow or as standards become more stringent.
Corn burners are an alternative safe and reliable heat source, but dnr officials caution against burning chemically treated seed corn, which can release toxic chemicals when burned.
Burning treated seed corn can emit low levels of hydrochloric acids and thiophosgene, also known as mustard gas. The highest emissions can occur at start up and shutdown, when combustion temperatures are lower, or if the unit is damped down.
Many corn burner manufacturers warn consumers against using chemically treated seed corn that is pink or red in color and contains captan and other pesticides that can emit toxins when burned.
Burning untreated corn can be a clean, excellent source of heat using renewable, iowa grown energy. Just avoid chemically treated seed corn, often provided free by companies trying to get rid of old supplies.
Fireworks displays are a spectacular and traditional method of celebrating some national and cultural traditions such as independence day on the 4th of July.
However, under the right meteorological conditions, the emissions from fireworks displays can be trapped near the ground and build up to unhealthful levels. The DNR recommends that members of the public take reasonable precautions to minimize exposures to emissions from fireworks displays, including avoiding areas of dense smoke near the launch areas of fireworks displays.
Idling is wasteful. It costs drivers money, consumes nonârenewable resources, and contributes to local air pollution, while the vehicle does not move an inch.
The air quality impacts of engine idling are considerable. An idling engine burns fuel at a lower temperature than an engine operating at driving speed. Since the vehicle is not moving, it is sitting in its own exhaust, further impeding fuel combustion and releasing more hydrocarbons than a moving vehicle.
While restarting a vehicle does increase use of the battery, alternator, and starter motor, it reduces wear and tear on the engine when compared to idling. A vehicle that is running will sustain wear and tear on the engine, spark plugs, alternator, and exhaust system. The epa recommends idling for no more than 30 seconds at a time to control maintenance costs, fuel costs, and pollution.
When picking up children from school, turn off engines in front of schools. Children are especially impacted by air pollution because their lungs are still growing.
When dropping off or picking up dry cleaning, using bank services, and picking up food at a restaurant, park the car and use counter service. Youâll lessen vehicle exhaust for the individuals who live and work in the area.
The fluctuating costs of petroleum-based fuels for home heating has many iowans looking at wood burning as a source of home heating. EPAâs strategies for reducing residential woodsmoke website will help you âlearn before you burn,â and assists consumers in making informed decisions about wood heating.
Vehicle exhaust is a leading contributor to air quality concerns. Vehicles and other mobile sources create over half of Iowaâs air pollution! Much of this pollution comes from a small population of poorly maintained vehicles â the easiest ones to spot have visible smoke emissions.
One smoking vehicle creates as much pollution as up to 30 properly functioning cars.
While ozone is almost never directly emitted, there are many voluntary actions individuals can take to reduce the emissions of ozone precursors.
In addition, there are some planning suggestions that will help communities avoid increases in ozone precursor emissions. These actions can help prevent exceedances of the federal ozone health standard.
