Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Environmental Services Division

For Immediate Release                                                   	    
    June 15, 2007

LIGHT WINDS AND HIGH TEMPERATURES CAUSE AIR POLLUTION LEVELS TO RISE ACROSS 
IOWA

MEDIA CONTACT: Mindy Kralicek at (515) 281-7832 or Sean Fitzsimmons at (515) 
210-7292.

DES MOINES - Pollutant levels approaching U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) health standards for fine particles were present over most of 
Iowa Friday morning.

The DNR recommends that Iowans with respiratory or heart disease, the 
elderly, and children limit prolonged exertion until air quality conditions 
improve.

The EPA’s 24-hour health standard for fine particles is 35 micrograms per 
cubic meter. Hourly values Friday morning were 20 to 40 micrograms per cubic 
meter. Fine particle levels from 20 to 30 micrograms per cubic meter were 
recorded across the state on Thursday.

The EPA’s national air quality outlook for Friday and Saturday indicates 
that light to moderate southerly winds will develop to the west and will 
transport in warm, moist air and enhance particle production.

Fine particles are emitted by vehicle traffic and other combustion sources 
and also formed by chemical reactions in the atmosphere. Stagnant air masses 
do not allow the fine particles to disperse, so pollutant levels rise.

EPA’s national air quality outlook and air quality maps are available online 
at www.airnow.gov.

-30-

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to:
[log in to unmask]

Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information:
http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp

To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see:
 http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp