Welcome to the Air Quality Partnership of Delaware

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 health. Ground level ozone and particulate matter (PM 2.5) 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.

New “Care for the Air” Video!

Tropo is a friend of the AQP and Delaware. Tropo is here to help raise awareness about how the air we breathe affects our health, and how the things we do can impact the air we breathe. Click on the image below to learn with Tropo how simple steps, including: carpooling, walking, biking, taking public transit, and turning off the car engine when you stop for more than two minutes, can make a big difference to help reduce air pollution.

Click on the image to watch the video!

 

If you’d like Tropo to visit your school or event, please write to Helen: Helen.Wiles@doverkentmpo.org

Sign up for Air Quality Email Alerts

To signup to for notifications of Air Quality Action Days, when the ozone or PM2.5 levels are expected to reach unhealthy levels, please visit: www.enviroflash.info.

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.

  • Take Transit: ride the bus, train, subway or trolley to work
  • Ride share: join a carpool or vanpool.  Visit Delaware Commute Solutions, to learn more
  • 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.

Delaware Commute Solutions Stats

Carpooling really can make a different in our air quality, our wallet, and our health.  Check out these clean commuting stats from Delaware Commute Solutions, a free commuter resource program.

 

The Partners

American Lung Association in DE, Chesapeake Utilities, Clean Air Council, DART First State, Delaware Commute Solutions, Delaware Health and Social Services, DE Division of Public Health, DNREC, Dover/Kent County MPO, King Creative, WILMAPCO

Join the Partnership

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.  For more information, please contact Helen at 302-387-6026 or email Helen.Wiles@doverkentmpo.org

The Air Quality Partnership of Delaware is on Facebook!
Be sure to “like” us!

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.

Air Quality Index(AQI)

Level of   Health Concern

Protective Measures
GREEN Good No health impacts expected.
YELLOW Moderate Unusually sensitive people should consider avoiding prolonged outdoor activity.
ORANGE Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups For Ozone: Sensitive groups (including children, the elderly, persons with respiratory conditions and adults who exert themselves or work outdoors) should limit outdoor activity. For Particle Pollution: Sensitive groups (including children, the elderly, persons with respiratory AND heart conditions) limit their outdoor AND indoor activity.
RED Unhealthy For Ozone: Everyone should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion.
For Particle Pollution: Everyone should avoid prolonged outdoor AND indoor exertion.

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.

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