AIR QUALITY

Air Quality forecasts are provided by State and local agencies using the Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index, a uniform index that provides general information to the public about air quality and associated health effects. The North Carolina Division of Air Quality maintains monitors across the State of North Carolina. Ozone is primarily a hot weather problem, with most high readings occurring in the summer months. It is also highest in urban areas with lots of cars and especially creates problems from the 2:00-6:00 p.m. range. The Air Quality Index ranges from good, moderate, unhealthful to very unhealthful. The following provides data for the Air Quality Index for 2006 versus 2005 for monitoring sites in North Carolina and indicates the number of days that were monitored and the Air Quality Index for those respective days.

2005 vs 2006 Air Quality Index Report

Monitoring Sites	# Days Moni- tored	Good	Moderate	Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups	Unhealthy	Very Unhealthy	Hazardous
Charlotte-Gastonia                2005	365	165	180	19	1	0	0
Charlotte-Gastonia                2006	365	183	165	17	0	0	0
Fayetteville                           2005	365	209	145	11	0	0	0
Fayetteville                           2006	365	301	64	0	0	0	0
Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point                                     2005	365	160	196	9	0	0	0
Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point                                     2006	365	193	165	7	0	0	0
Hickory/Morganton/Lenoir    2005	355	171	182	2	0	0	0
Hickory/Morganton/Lenoir    2006	266	196	70	0	0	0	0
Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill 2005	365	187	168	9	1	0	0
Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill 2006	365	214	148	3	0	0	0
Wilmington                           2005	365	275	90	0	0	0	0
Wilmington                           2006	333	333	29	0	0	0	0
Asheville                               2005	362	247	113	2	0	0	0
Asheville                               2006	266	227	39	0	0	0	0

 

These are the most current figures available from the North Carolina Division of Air Quality. For additional information, go to http://daq.state.nc.us/monitor/data/o3design/o3nc04-06.pdf to select the 2004-2006 map or details table to identify the counties not attaining the ozone standard in North Carolina for the 2004-2006.

Source: NC Division of Air Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency [http://daq.state.nc.us/monitor/data] February 2008.