How Orange Air Pollution Is Caused

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a system used to warn the public when air pollution is dangerous. The AQI tracks six color-coded categories, each corresponding to a range of index values. An AQI value of 50 or below represents good air quality, while an AQI value over 300 represents hazardous air quality. When the AQI reaches the orange level, it means that pollution levels are unhealthy for sensitive groups of people, including older adults, children, and people with heart and lung disease. Orange air pollution is caused by fine particulate matter, which is produced by sources such as industrial facilities, car emissions, and restaurants. To reduce the impact of orange air pollution, it is recommended to avoid long periods of outdoor activity, stay away from high-traffic areas, and limit the use of gas-powered equipment and burning garbage.

Industrial facilities, car emissions, and restaurants

While I could not find specific information on orange air pollution, I can outline the contributions of industrial facilities, car emissions, and restaurants to air pollution.

Industrial Facilities

The natural gas, plastic, chemical, electric generation, and waste disposal industries can generate hazardous waste that, if not properly disposed of, can create significant air pollution. Every stage of oil and gas operations, from production and extraction to processing and distribution, releases air pollution that negatively affects public health and exacerbates the climate crisis. For example, fracking-related infrastructure, steel-making plants, petrochemical plants, and hazardous waste sites can all be sources of industrial air pollution.

Car Emissions

Cars, trucks, buses, off-road vehicles, and planes are all considered mobile sources of air pollution. The burning of fuel in internal combustion engines releases carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons. These pollutants can also be released from vehicle tailpipes, and gasoline vapors can escape during refueling and when fuel vaporizes from engines and fuel systems. On warm, sunny days, hydrocarbons from car emissions can react with oxides of nitrogen to create ozone, a common component of smog. Additionally, a small amount of diesel fuel exits the engine unburned, and these airborne hydrocarbons can form larger particles in the atmosphere when they come into contact with airborne dust and other particles.

Restaurants

Although specific information about restaurants' contributions to air pollution is scarce, it can be inferred that they contribute to air pollution through their emissions, particularly from cooking activities. Restaurants that use gas-powered equipment, such as stoves and ovens, can release pollutants into the air, including nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter.

To reduce air pollution from these sources, regulatory bodies like the DEC in New York provide technical, regulatory, and policy support for emission control programs and implement inspection and maintenance programs for vehicles. Additionally, transitioning away from natural gas and single-use plastics, improving recycling practices, and adopting zero-emission vehicle technologies are crucial steps in mitigating air pollution from industrial facilities and car emissions.

Fine particulate matter

The health risks associated with fine particulate matter are not limited to respiratory issues. Studies have shown that children living near busy roadways with high levels of particulate air pollution are more likely to develop asthma and other breathing disorders. Additionally, fine particulate matter has been linked to the development of cardiovascular diseases, such as stroke and heart attack, and an increased risk of lung cancer.

To reduce the health risks associated with fine particulate matter, it is essential to limit exposure and reduce pollution sources. During Air Quality Action Days, residents are advised to reduce fireplace and wood stove use, avoid open burning, and limit the use of gas-powered equipment. Opting for biking or walking instead of driving can also help lower car exhaust emissions. Additionally, ensuring the "leakiness" of building structures can help prevent fine particulate matter from entering indoor spaces.

Temperature inversion

This inversion occurs more frequently during the winter, when snow-covered valley floors reflect heat rather than absorb it, disrupting the usual vertical mixing of warm and cold air masses. Calm winds, clear skies, and long nights further contribute to this phenomenon by reducing the natural exchange of air layers. As a result, pollutants from vehicles, wood burning, area sources, and industry become trapped near the ground, leading to a deterioration in air quality.

The strength and duration of the temperature inversion directly influence the levels of air pollution. A strong inversion can confine pollutants to a shallow vertical layer, causing a significant increase in Air Quality Index (AQI) values. Conversely, a weak inversion will result in lower AQI values. The AQI is a tool used to communicate the level of outdoor air quality and its corresponding health concerns to the public. An AQI value of 50 or below is generally considered good air quality, while an AQI value over 300 indicates hazardous air quality that poses health risks to everyone.

During a temperature inversion, the concentration of PM2.5 particles, which are formed through chemical and photochemical reactions in the atmosphere, can reach unhealthy levels. These particles are composed of precursor emissions such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ammonia (NH3). These chemicals react with other atmospheric gases, particularly ammonia, to form secondary pollutants like ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate. The buildup of these pollutants can have adverse effects on human health, particularly for sensitive groups such as older adults, children, and individuals with pre-existing lung or heart conditions.

To mitigate the impact of temperature inversion on air quality, it is crucial to limit the emission of pollutants. This can be achieved by reducing the use of gas-powered equipment, opting for alternative modes of transportation like biking or walking, and avoiding burning garbage. By taking these measures, we can help minimize ground-level ozone emissions and reduce the health risks associated with poor air quality during temperature inversion events.

Particle pollution

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is used to warn the public about dangerous levels of air pollution, including particle pollution. The AQI is divided into six categories, each represented by a different colour to indicate the level of health concern. An AQI value of 50 or below represents good air quality, while a value over 300 indicates hazardous air quality. When the AQI predicts a "Code Orange" day, it means that the air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups, including older adults, children, and people with lung or heart disease. On such days, it is recommended to limit outdoor activity, especially in high-traffic areas, and to avoid long periods of strenuous exercise.

To reduce exposure to particle pollution, individuals can take steps such as opting for biking or walking instead of driving, staying away from high-traffic areas, and limiting time spent outdoors on days with poor air quality. By keeping track of the AQI and taking appropriate measures, individuals can help protect themselves and their families from the harmful effects of particle pollution.

Nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and carbon monoxide (CO) are significant ambient air pollutants. They are among the pollutants with the strongest evidence for adverse public health impacts, which can occur with both short- and long-term exposure. These pollutants are monitored by the US Air Quality Index (AQI), which is the EPA's tool for communicating about outdoor air quality and health. The AQI is divided into six colour-coded categories, each corresponding to a range of index values. Orange, for instance, indicates that the air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups.

Nitrogen dioxide is a trace gas that is the result of both natural and anthropogenic processes. Long-term exposure to NO2 may cause a wide spectrum of severe health problems, including hypertension, diabetes, heart and cardiovascular diseases, and even death. High-intensity exposure to NO2 in confined spaces has been linked to catastrophic injury and death in humans. Ambient NO2 exposure may also increase the risk of respiratory tract infections through its interaction with the immune system.

Sulfur dioxide is a colourless gas that is soluble in water. It is predominantly produced when fuel containing sulfur, such as coal and oil, undergoes combustion, and during petroleum refining. Over 65% of ambient air SO2 in the United States comes from electric utilities, especially coal-fired power plants. Sulfur dioxide exposure contributes to respiratory symptoms in both healthy patients and those with underlying pulmonary disease. Controlled human exposure studies have demonstrated that SO2 exposure causes changes in airway physiology, including increased airways resistance.

Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless gas produced by the incomplete combustion of carbonaceous fuels such as wood, petrol, coal, natural gas, and kerosene in simple stoves, open fires, wick lamps, furnaces, and fireplaces. Acute and chronic exposure to carbon monoxide is associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiopulmonary events, including death.

Frequently asked questions