Air Pollution: Particulate Matter

Central Valley Air Pollution Standards Affect the Sierra Nevada

Why is it important?

Particulate matter contributes to various health concerns including childhood asthma, acute respiratory symptoms, and chronic bronchitis, as well as difficulty completing daily tasks and attending school or work. The minute size of each particle is especially harmful in its ability to reach far into the human lungs, and it’s difficulty to remove.15

Particulate matter is generated from a variety of sources, including diesel fuel emissions and agricultural operations. In the Sierra Nevada, a significant amount of particulate matter is blown in, originating in the Central Valley. Because of the prevailing wind patterns, air pollution standards in the valley have a significant effect on the Sierra Nevada region. Not all air monitoring stations reported readings during some years.

How are we doing?

In the North Central and South Central Sierra, particulate matter blown in from the Central Valley produces at least ten days exceeded during most years where state standards are exceeded. In the East Sierra, wind causes some of the highest concentrations of particulate matter in the nation. Since its water has been diverted to Los Angeles, Owens Lake contributes to the problem with its alkaline soil increasing concentrations of unhealthy particulate matter in the air. The nation’s highest recorded amount of dust particulate in the air, almost 140 times the EPA standard, was measured at Owens Lake.

15 Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved May 11, 2005 from http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/naaqsfin/pmhealth.html

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