Air Quality Particulate Matter Fact Sheet, NYC, Oct 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

DRAFT 10/17/01 @ 11:30 a.m. 2. Certain sensitive populations, listed below, are susceptible to more serious problems, including cough, phlegm, wheezing, shortness of breath, bronchitis, increased asthma attacks, and aggravation of respiratory or cardiovascular disease. • Individuals with asthma and other respiratory diseases. Levels of pollutants ithat might not affect healthy people might cause breathing difficulties for people ;with asthma or other chronic lung diseases, especially children.. Individuals with emphysema and chronic bronchitis may also experience a worsening of their conditions because of exposure to dust and smoke. Studies have linked particulate matter pollution to increased risk of hospitalizations for respiratory disease, asthma attacks, and respiratory mortality. • Individuals with cardiovascular disease. People with heart disease might also experience symptoms such as shortness of breath or chest tightness. Studies have also linked particulate pollution to increased risk of hospitalizations for cardiovascular disease and heart attacks, and cardiovascular mortality. • The elderly. The elderly are more likely to have preexisting lung and heart diseases, and therefore are more susceptible to health effects from exposure to particle pollution. • Children. Healthy children are sensitive to air pollution and more susceptible to pollution than healthy adults. Studies have shown that in children, particulate pollution is associated with increased episodes of coughing and difficulty breathing, and decreased lung function.

3. In communicating levels of concern for concentrations of particulate matter in outdoor air to the public EPA uses the Air Quality Index. The air quality index is composed of several air quality categories and EPA provides recommendations to the public about steps to reduce exposure at levels of concern for the general public and sensitive sub­ groups. When values are above these levels, it is recommended that members of sensitive groups reduce their exposure. Exposure to elevated concentrations of particles for periods of time less than a day are also of potential concern for sensitive groups. • For fine particles (PM, ,), the level of concern is 40 micrograms per cubic meter of air (/zg/m’), for a 24-hour average exposure. • For fine and coarse particles combined (PM,o), the level of concern is 150 A^g/m\ for a 24-hour average exposure.

Although total suspended particulate (TSP) si not included in the Air Quality Index, New York State estimates a level of concern to be approximately 250 Aig/m", for a 24-hour average exposure.

While there are State and Federal standards for selected particles in outdoor air and workplace air, there are no standards for particles in residential settings, nor do we have a good characterization of what a “background” or average concentration would be. This is because there are many human and household factors that can dramatically influence air concentrations

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