The Air Quality Partnership of Delaware (AQP)

• 2009 Ozone Season Kickoff Event

• AQP Mission

• The Partners

• Air Quality Forecasts

• Air Quality Alerts

• Air Quality Actions

• Join the Partnership

• Events

• Ozone

• PM 2.5

• Links

2009 Ozone Season Kickoff Event

The Air Quality Partnership of Delaware kick-started the 2009 Ozone Season at Wilmington’s Earth Day event on April 22.  Governor Jack Markell began by proclaiming the week of April 22 as Air Quality Awareness Week.  Wilmington Mayor James Baker, Deb Brown, executive director for the American Lung Association of Delaware, Jennifer Adkins, executive director of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, and Jim Werner, director of the Division of Air and Waste Management for the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), also attended the event. Newly appointed DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara made his first public appearance since he was sworn into office.  O’Mara said what attracted him to take the job in Delaware, was Markell’s vision for good environmental policy, and that he was confident that Delaware can become a leading state in fighting climate change.  Debra Brown, director of the American Lung Association of Delaware, talked about initiatives that the Air Quality Partnership of Delaware has made to get the word out about helping the state’s air pollution issues and noted some of the easy steps people can take to improve the air we breathe, such as driving less and taking more public transit, linking errands into one trip, and not letting a car engine idle for more than a minute.

The Air Quality Partnership of Delaware Mission

The mission of the Air Quality Partnership of Delaware, a public / private coalition of businesses, agencies and individuals interested in clean air, is to raise awareness and inform Delawareans about practices that improve air quality and citizen health.

In 2006, the Ozone Partnership of Delaware changed its name to the Air Quality Partnership of Delaware.  This was to reflect our increased outreach educating people on the dangers of various air pollutants found in our region. 

In addition to providing information on the health impacts that ground level ozone may have on residents, we will also be explaining about particulate matter (PM 2.5).  They are both caused by pollutants in the air, frequently the result of vehicle or industrial emissions.  They can result in health problems, particularly for sensitive groups, such as seniors, children and people with respiratory problems.  

The Air Quality Partnership of Delaware Partners: 

American Lung Association of DE, AstraZeneca, DART First State, Delaware Ecumenical Council, DelDOT, DNREC, Dover/Kent County MPO, Nemours, RideShare Delaware, Transportation Management Association Delaware, Valero Delaware City Refinery, WILMAPCO

Air Quality Forecasts

Air Quality Alerts are provided from May through September. 

If you are interested in receiving a notification of Air Quality Action Days, when the ozone or PM2.5 levels are expected to reach unhealthy levels, you have two options. 

1. Encourage your employer to sign up as an Ozone Transit Partner with Transportation Management Association (TMA) Delaware.  Not only will you be notified of Ozone Action Days, but you can also receive FIVE free bus passes to be used on Ozone Action Days or anytime during the summer.
    
2. Contact us to be added to WILMAPCO's Air Quality Alert email list.  On days when we expect ozone or PM2.5 to reach unhealthy levels, we will send an email to you one day prior.  This will allow you to consider using one of our TIPS to reducing ozone. 

Air Quality Actions

On AIR QUALITY ACTION DAYS we urge you to limit your time outdoors during the afternoon, when ozone is typically at its highest levels.  On these days, don't fill up your gas tank until after sunset, don't mow your lawn or use a BBQ grill and limit the use of your car - carpool, bring your lunch to work, ride transit, etc.

You can help to reduce our air pollution problem by taking these easy steps:

• Take Transit: ride the bus, train, subway or trolley to work

• Ride share: join a carpool or vanpool

• Telecommute: work from home and spend your extra commute hours with your family

• "Trip-link": do all errands at one time, avoiding unnecessary cold starts. An engine that's been sitting for an hour or more pollutes five times as much as a warm one.

• Don't "top off" your fuel tank. This is never a good idea, no matter what time of day. Spillage adds about two tons of pollution a day to our air.

• Turn off your engine when you stop your car for a minute or more.

• Postpone mowing the lawn until late in the day or use a manual or electric mower instead. (And remember to refuel mowers and other gasoline-powered tools after dusk too).

• Start your barbecue with an electric probe, charcoal "chimney" or use a gas grill. Charcoal lighter fluid vaporizes quickly and adds to air pollution.

• Use latex paints -rather than oil-based-and avoid daytime use of pollutants.

Join the Air Quality Partnership of Delaware

You or your organization can play an important role in reducing the impact of poor air quality by working with us to educate Delawareans about simple steps that can be taken to "Do Their Share for Cleaner Air."  These steps, when taken by many people, reduce the incidence of high ozone days, resulting in a reduction in lung-related illnesses, lower health care costs, reduced employee absenteeism and families that are happier and healthier.

To join the Air Quality Partnership of Delaware simply complete and return the commitment form below.

• Air Quality Partnership of Delaware Commitment Form

Return completed forms to WILMAPCO

Email: rnovakoff@wilmapco.org

Fax: 302-737-9584

Mail: 850 Library Ave. Suite 100, Newark, DE 19711

Events

Be sure and visit the Partnership at the following events.

Ozone

Ground level ozone, or smog, is air pollution that is particularly dangerous on hot summer days.   It is caused by emissions from cars and other gasoline engines combining with sunlight and heat.  On days when the temperature is high and the air is still, these emissions (NOx and VOCs) create a harmful mix called ground level ozone. 

It can affect everyone. The average adult breathes over 3,000 gallons of air every day. Children breathe even more air per pound of body weight and are more susceptible to air pollution. Also, they play outside more and are exposed to greater quantities, compared to adults. Groups especially sensitive to air pollution include: children, the elderly, people with heart and lung diseases, and in the summer, adults who exercise or work outside.

In the short-term, exposure to high levels of ozone irritates the lung's airways and causes inflammation, much like a sunburn. Other symptoms include coughing, wheezing, chest pain and headaches. It can aggravate chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and bronchitis and can lead to increased emergency room visits and hospital admissions. Long-term, prolonged exposure to even low levels of ozone can cause asthma in children and lead to permanent lung damage.

To help you know if the air outside is safe, we forecast air quality every day from May-September.  Watch the news, visit our website or check your local newspaper to see what the Ozone level is each day.

PM 2.5

Particulate Matter refers to tiny particles that are emitted into the air.  Our region was determined to be in non-attainment for Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5).  This means, the particles are 2.5 microns, about 1/14 the width of a human hair.  Because they are so small, they get imbedded into the lining of our lungs and cause health problems. 

Unlike ozone, PM2.5 levels don't rely on sunlight to create unhealthy air.  Therefore reach dangerous levels any time during the day and all year round.  In addition to respiratory problems, exposure to PM can cause cardio damage as well.

Links

• www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnR7byHOOLA - video about the Air Quality Index
• www.airnow.gov - a time-lapsed image of ozone in our region.  Click the map you want and then click "See this map in motion." 
• www.airqualitypartnership.org - information on what you can do to help reduce the harmful effects of ozone or PM 2.5
• http://www.awm.delaware.gov/Info/Ozone.htm - to learn more about Ozone
• www.wilmapco.org/aq/index.htm - to learn more about air quality in the WILMAPCO region

This page last updated:
06/29/2009