Regional Data Book, Vol. XI,  2009

 

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 2007 versus 2006 for monitoring sites in North Carolina and indicates the number of days that were monitored and the Air Quality Index for those respective days.


2007 vs 2006 Air Quality Index Report

Monitoring Sites

# Days Moni-

tored

Good

Moderate

Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

Unhealthy

Very Unhealthy

Hazardous

Charlotte-Gastonia                2007

365

149

160

50

5

1

0

Charlotte-Gastonia                2006

365

183

165

17

0

0

0

Fayetteville                           2007

365

233

122

10

0

0

0

Fayetteville                           2006

365

301

64

0

0

0

0

Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point                                     2007

365

183

142

37

3

0

0

Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point                                     2006

365

193

165

7

0

0

0

Hickory/Morganton/Lenoir    2007

365

179

170

15

1

0

0

Hickory/Morganton/Lenoir    2006

266

196

70

0

0

0

0

Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill 2007

365

199

138

29

0

0

0

Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill 2006

365

214

148

3

0

0

0

Wilmington                           2007

365

303

61

1

0

0

0

Wilmington                           2006

333

333

29

0

0

0

0

Asheville                               2007

365

210

132

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/05-07.shtml to select the 2005-2007 map or details table to identify the counties not attaining the ozone standard in North Carolina for the 2005-2007.

 Source:   NC Division of Air Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency [http://daq.state.nc.us/monitor/data] February 2009.

 
 
 
NORTH CAROLINA'S SOUTHEAST
The Regional Economic Development Marketing Organization For Southeastern North Carolina
707 West Broad Street, P.O. Box 2556, Elizabethtown, NC 28337
Phone: 800-787-1333 Fax: 910-862-1482