MUSCATINE, Iowa — A recent study shows that fine particulate matter in the Muscatine area comes from regional and local sources and will continue to rise and fall with the weather. Although Muscatine recently reached attainment, after being non-compliant for about a year, work still needs to be done to keep air pollutants down.

The University of Iowa has released the results of a study, “Understanding Episodes of High Airborne Particulate Matter in Iowa,” and the Muscatine City Council will review the information at its meeting at 7 p.m. today at City Hall. The study analyzed monitoring data between 2002 and 2008 for Muscatine, Davenport and Clinton and was released Feb 25.

The study was commissioned by local governments and businesses in Scott and Muscatine counties to learn more about National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particulate matter.

“The study did essentially what we wanted it to do,” said A.J. Johnson, Muscatine’s city administrator. “We wanted to find out if there was something unique in Iowa’s meteorological background that causes high levels across the state, even in areas without industry.”

The study shows Muscatine County’s air contains 35 micrograms per cubic meter of fine particulate matter — soots and aerosols in the air that can penetrate the deepest parts of the lungs, according to the Department of Natural Resources.

In Muscatine, that number had been rated at 36 micrograms per cubic meter. That is above the 24-hour standard of 35, which was set by the Environmental Protection Agency. That standard was lowered from 65 micrograms per cubic meter to 35 micrograms per cubic meter in 2002. This type of pollution is linked

to a wide range of lung and heart diseases.

Data from 2005-07 measured an average that put Muscatine out of compliance. The 2008 data has now been presented to the EPA and has brought county back in to attainment — though barely — at 35 micrograms per cubic meter

About the study

While many questions were addressed in the study, it focused on two results:

1) Are Iowa fine particulate matter episodes regionally dominated or local?

To that question, the study found that, while a typical year had three to five regional air pollution episodes serious enough to influence air quality attainment, both factors are important. At the current EPA standard for particulate matter, regional episodes are unlikely to put monitors in Eastern Iowa into noncompliance unless they experience additional impact from local sources.

In Muscatine, the monitor is located at Garfield School and the DNR has said in the past that industrial sources in the area of the monitor are responsible for fine particle pollution levels that violate federal air quality standards.

The two nearest industries to the monitor, Grain Processing Corp. and Muscatine Power and Water, are working to reduce emissions and are developing multi-million-dollar emission control plans in collaboration with the DNR, according to the study. The study went on to say that Both the public and private sectors will need to continue efforts to improve air quality.

2) What controls cold weather particulate matter episodes?

According to the study, during cold weather months regional ammonium nitrate formation was found to be an important factor. Typical ammonium sources would be manure, fertilizer, wastewater treatment and vehicles. Nitrate results from nitrogen oxide reacting in the atmosphere. Typical sources are the combustion of coal, natural gas, oil and gasoline.

Midwest states have experienced geographically widespread high levels of particulate matter during all seasons, with the most severe episodes during December 2007, characterized by mild daytime weather and foggy nights.

According to the study, compliance with the standard can likely be achieved but meteorology will still play a role creating “good” and “bad” years.

However, if source-related emissions are not reduced, sites will go in and out of compliance from year-to-year in Davenport, Muscatine and Clinton.

Johnson said Eastern Iowa sometimes gets particulate matter from as far as Chicago and Milwaukee, Wis., when the wind blows from the east and northeast.

Details

DES MOINES, Iowa — Muscatine residents who want to know the real-time quality of the air they breathe can check out a new Web site from the University of Iowa’s Hygienic Laboratory.

It shows data taken continuously from two sites in Muscatine.  The device at Garfield School measures the fine particles in the air (PM2.5), which should be at  35 micrograms per cubic meter of air for normal air quality. 

The device at Musser Park measures the sulfur dioxide in the air. High levels of sulfur dioxide can cause respiratory problems and acid rain.

The Web site is at http://www.uhl.uiowa.edu/services/ambient/realtime.xml