AIR POLLUTION STANDARDS EXCEEDED in Muscatine and Council Bluffs  

DES MOINES — Preliminary data shows exceedances of new EPA health standards for sulfur dioxide (SO₂) in a portion of Muscatine and for lead (Pb) in a portion of Council Bluffs, reports the air quality bureau of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The new health standard for SO₂ went into effect Aug. 23 and 10 exceedances have been monitored in Muscatine’s Musser Park. The one hour standard is set at 75 parts per billion (ppb), a level designed to protect against short-term exposures. Science indicates that short-term exposures to SO₂ are of greater concern than previously believed. Those most sensitive are individuals with asthma, bronchitis, emphysema or other lung and heart diseases, as well as children and the elderly.

 Area industry has been alerted to the monitored values and has begun working with the DNR to evaluate their levels of SO₂ emissions.

 States are allowed time to develop strategies and plans to ensure that areas will attain a newly released standard. EPA is required to designate an area as not meeting the new SO₂ standard by June 2, 2012. The DNR will be required under the federal Clean Air Act to have developed and submitted a plan to EPA for ensuring that the area will attain and maintain the new standard in the future by February 2014.

Real time continuous data is available for the Musser Park SO₂ monitor at www.uhl.uiowa.edu/services/ambient/realtime.xml . Select Musser Park from the “Site” drop-down menu. Note that this data has not been validated and could contain errors.

 Lead Concern in Council Bluffs

The new lead health standard, 0.15 micrograms per cubic meter of air (μg/m³) on a rolling three-month time period, is 10 times more stringent than the previous standard. It was promulgated by EPA on Oct. 15, 2008. The ambient air monitor for lead near Griffin Pipe in Council Bluffs shows two rolling three-month periods above the new standard.

New requirements for Griffin Pipe’s air permit, which is currently posted for public comment, require the installation and operation of additional air pollution controls. Operation of these controls will likely prevent future violations of the lead standard. In the mean time, the affected area will likely be designated by EPA as not attaining the new lead standard. This would occur by Oct. 15, 2011. 

Lead can be inhaled or can be ingested after settling out of the air. Ingestion is the main route of human exposure. Once in the body, lead is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream and can affect many organ systems including children's developing nervous systems.

 Real time continuous data is not available from lead monitors.

A report with more information about Iowa’s 2010 air quality exceedances is available on the DNR website at: www.iowadnr.gov/air/prof/monitor/files/Iowa_NAAQS_2010.pdf .

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