Air Quality Concerns In Cave Creek, Arizona

Cave Creek, Arizona, is taking steps to reduce light pollution and become a designated Dark Sky Community. The town's current ordinance seeks to minimize light pollution, reduce glare and light trespass, and conserve energy. While the air quality in Cave Creek is generally good, with an AQI of 31, there are still concerns about air pollution. PM2.5 concentrations, for example, are currently 1.1 times the World Health Organization's annual guideline value.

Light pollution

Cave Creek, Arizona, is taking steps to combat light pollution and become a Dark Sky Community. The Dark Sky designation is awarded by the International Dark-Sky Association to communities that adopt policies to allow people to enjoy the night sky without light pollution. To achieve this, Cave Creek is educating residents about light pollution and encouraging them to shield lights at night and use light bulbs that are better suited for night vision. The town's current ordinance seeks to minimize light pollution, reduce glare and light trespass, and conserve energy.

The Cave Creek Dark Skies Initiative was co-founded by Arlen to stop light pollution from encroaching further into the town and the surrounding areas. The group is working to achieve a Dark Sky International Dark Sky certification, which has already been awarded to other Arizona towns like Sedona, Flagstaff, Fountain Hills, Cottonwood, and Camp Verde.

Cave Creek's lighting ordinance does not permit commercial lights to be on after hours, but some businesses in the town core continue to keep their lights on late into the night. The town also lacks routine monitoring of light pollution, and there has been no formal application submitted for the Dark Sky Community designation. However, communities without the resources to achieve the designation can apply for provisional status with the IDA for three years to make the necessary lighting upgrades.

Despite these challenges, Cave Creek is committed to becoming a Dark Sky Community and is taking steps to educate residents and improve lighting practices. The town recognizes the economic benefits of a dark sky designation, including increased tourism and improved real-estate values.

Air Quality Index (AQI)

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a tool used by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to communicate about outdoor air quality and health. The AQI includes six color-coded categories, each corresponding to a range of index values. The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and associated health concerns. For example, an AQI value of 50 or below represents good air quality, while an AQI value over 300 indicates hazardous air quality. When AQI values are above 100, the air quality is unhealthy for certain sensitive groups of people; as the AQI value increases beyond 100, the air quality becomes unhealthy for everyone.

The AQI is calculated using raw measurements, which are then converted by Plume Labs into values comprising the AQI, using standards and guidelines developed by the EPA and the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as other scientific studies. The EPA establishes an AQI for five major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act, and each of these pollutants has a national air quality standard set by the EPA to protect public health.

In Cave Creek, AZ, the AQI is generally acceptable for most individuals, with a recent AQI value of 31. However, sensitive groups may experience minor to moderate symptoms from long-term exposure. The dominant pollutant in the area is O3, or ozone. Ozone is a concern for people's health when levels are high, as it can cause difficulty breathing and throat irritation.

Health risks of air pollution

Air pollution is the presence of contaminants in the atmosphere, such as dust, fumes, gas, mist, odour, smoke or vapour, in quantities that can be harmful to human health. The main pathway of exposure from air pollution is through the respiratory tract, but some pollutants are small enough to enter the bloodstream through the lungs and circulate throughout the body. This can lead to systemic inflammation and carcinogenicity.

The health risks and disease pathways depend on the types and concentrations of pollutants in the air. The pollutants with the strongest evidence for public health concern include particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulphur dioxide (SO2).

Short-term exposure to higher levels of outdoor air pollution is associated with reduced lung function, aggravated asthma, respiratory infections, cardiac problems, emergency department visits, and hospital admissions. Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter increases a person's risk for diseases with a longer onset, like some non-communicable diseases including stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer.

Some groups are more at risk of illness and death from air pollution than others. These include people who are pregnant, children, older adults, and people living with chronic conditions, especially heart and lung disease. People of colour are more likely to be exposed to air pollution and more likely to suffer harm to their health from it than white people. This is due to the long history of systemic racism in the United States, which has led to discriminatory practices such as redlining and residential segregation. People of colour are also more likely to be living with one or more chronic conditions that make them more susceptible to the health impacts of air pollution, including asthma and diabetes.

Wildfires and air quality

Wildfires can significantly impact air quality, as smoke from these fires can degrade it. Wildfire smoke is a mixture of air pollutants, with particulate matter being the main public health threat. These tiny particles in the air can reduce visibility and cause haze. While most healthy adults and children will recover quickly from exposure to wildfire smoke, certain groups are at greater risk of experiencing adverse health effects. This includes people with respiratory or cardiovascular diseases, children and older adults, pregnant women, those of lower socioeconomic status, and outdoor workers.

To protect yourself from the negative consequences of poor air quality due to wildfires, you can refer to resources provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Forest Service. They have developed the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map, which provides valuable information on fire locations, smoke plumes, near real-time air quality, and protective actions to take. The map is colour-coded, making it easy to understand the air quality in your area and take the necessary steps to safeguard your health. Additionally, Smoke Outlooks are available on the map during large wildfires, offering forecasts of smoke impacts to help affected individuals plan their activities and minimise smoke exposure.

It is important to note that Cave Creek, AZ, generally has acceptable air quality. However, sensitive groups may experience symptoms from long-term exposure, and on certain days, the air quality can deteriorate due to factors such as wildfires. Therefore, it is advisable to stay informed about the air quality in your area and take the necessary precautions to protect your health.

To maintain good air quality in Cave Creek, AZ, and minimise the impact of wildfires, individuals can take proactive measures such as biking to work and engaging in other outdoor activities that promote a healthy environment. Additionally, individuals can consider investing in air purification solutions or taking steps to prevent wildfires, such as prescribed fires, which are planned by experts to reduce fuels and limit the size of potential wildfires.

Reducing outdoor light pollution

Light pollution is a growing global issue that negatively affects the environment, wildlife habitats, and our quality of life. It is caused by unnecessary, misdirected, or improper artificial outdoor lighting. Here are some ways to reduce outdoor light pollution:

Use Less Lighting

Before installing new lights or replacing old ones, ask yourself if you need them. Only use what is necessary and create a smaller targeted illumination area. Focus on lighting only the required area and nothing more. Reduce the duration of their use. Lights do not need to be turned on all night long outside of security concerns.

Use Dimmers, Motion Sensors, and Timers

Dimmers, motion sensors, and timers can help to reduce average illumination levels and save energy. Motion sensors automatically turn lights on when they detect motion and turn off after a duration of inactivity. Timers control when lights turn on and off.

Choose the Right Light Bulbs

Use warm-colored bulbs such as low-pressure sodium (LPS), high-pressure sodium (HPS), and low-CCT LEDs. Avoid blue-rich white light sources as they worsen sky glow, increase glare, and compromise human and wildlife vision. Blue light can also adversely affect wildlife behaviour and reproduction.

Use Properly Shielded Lighting Fixtures

Use outdoor lighting with proper shielding to reduce light pollution. Unshielded or poorly shielded lighting can cause light glare, light trespass, and public safety issues. Shielded lighting fixtures minimize glare and light trespass, providing better vision at night.

Support Light Pollution Advocacy and Legislation

Support organizations like DarkSky International and the Illuminating Engineering Society that advocate for reducing light pollution. When citizens band together to enact local legislation, light pollution advocacy can be very effective.

Frequently asked questions