[ADEQ Media] High Pollution Advisory: Effective Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009

Mon Oct 26 15:11:10 MST 2009

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality is issuing a High
Pollution Advisory (HPA) for Tuesday, Oct. 27 for Particulate Matter
pollution (PM-10). 

This HPA is being issued because a cold front with strong winds is
expected to reach the Valley by Tuesday afternoon. Because there has
been no significant rainfall since August, the front is expected to
generate large amounts of blowing dust, which may continue on Wednesday.

"As a result, the Maricopa County Air Quality Department will enforce
the mandatory "No Burn Day" restriction for Maricopa County from
midnight to midnight during the HPA," reminds department Director
Lawrence Odle.  "Residents and businesses must refrain from burning
activity during this 24-hour period."  This restriction includes
individuals and businesses that have burn permits for open burning.

This HPA also includes the following restrictions:

*              Contractors cannot use leaf blowers on governmental
properties on HPA days.

*              Hotels, restaurants and residents must refrain from
burning wood in their indoor fireplaces and outdoor fire pits during a
HPA.  Open burning is also restricted. 

*              Off-highway vehicles are prohibited from being used
during a PM-10 HPA. 

ADEQ recommends that children and adults with respiratory problems avoid
outdoor activities on Tuesday and suggests the general public limit
outdoor activity during periods when there is windblown dust occurring.
People exposed to particles may experience a number of respiratory
symptoms including   coughing and phlegm, decreased lung function,
airway inflammation, asthma attacks, and chronic bronchitis.  Older
adults and people with heart or lung diseases are more vulnerable to
particle pollution. Children are at risk because they are more likely to
be active, they breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults,
and their bodies are still developing.

Valley Metro requests employers activate their HPA Plan. Residents and
employers are asked to use these tips to help make the air healthier to
breathe: 

*              Use public transit, carpool or telecommute if possible

*              Eliminate all unnecessary driving and/or combine trips

*              Visit www.ValleyMetro.org <http://www.valleymetro.org/>
to map a commute on bus or light rail, find a carpool/vanpool partner,
or bike route.

*              To learn more about the air you're breathing, visit:
www.CleanAirMakeMore.com <http://www.cleanairmakemore.com/> 

PARTICULATE MATTER BACKGROUND:  State and county agencies measure PM-10
and PM-2.5 which are extremely small solid particles and liquid droplets
found circulating in the air.  PM, or particulate matter, comes from
either combustion (cars, industry, woodburning) or dust stirred up into
the air. High levels of PM are typically created when the air is
especially stagnant or especially windy.

PM-10 stands for particulate matter measuring 10 microns or less.
PM-2.5 stands for particulate matter measuring 2.5 microns or less.  To
put this in perspective, one strand of human hair is 70-100 microns in
size.  

WHO'S WHO? 

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality [ADEQ] provides a daily
forecast for air quality.   When conditions exist, ADEQ will issue high
pollution advisories, health watches and alerts.  Daily air quality
forecasts are on ADEQ's Web site at
www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/ozone/ensemble.pdf or by calling
(602)771-2367. Those interested in receiving the air quality forecast
via email can subscribe to ADEQ's forecast list at
www.azdeq.gov/subscribe.html  and text alerts at
www.azdeq.gov/sms.html.

The Maricopa County Air Quality Department issues No Burn Day
restrictions based on a high pollution advisory or health watch.  These
No Burn Day restrictions typically occur during the winter months.  To
find out if any burn restrictions are in place, call 602-506-6400 or
visit www.cleanairmakemore.com <http://www.cleanairmakemore.com/> .
Information is given in both English and Spanish.

To learn more about the Maricopa County residential woodburning
restriction ordinance, view a copy on our website www.maricopa.gov/aq.
Click on the direct link to the residential woodburning restriction
ordinance:
http://www.maricopa.gov/aq/divisions/planning_analysis/rules/docs/rwro99
11.pdf

Valley Metro/RPTA provides eco-friendly public transit options to
residents of greater Phoenix and Maricopa County, including a clean-fuel
bus fleet, low-emissions light rail, online carpool matching and bus
trip mapping, and bicycle and telework assistance. Funding is provided
by local, state and federal revenues; and administered by a board of 15
governments working to improve and regionalize the public transit
system. www.ValleyMetro.org <http://www.valleymetro.org/> 

Media contacts: 

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality [ADEQ]

Mark Shaffer - 602-771-2215 desk / 480-433-9551 cell

Maricopa County Air Quality Department

Holly Ward - 602-506-6713 desk / 602-526-7307 cell

Valley Metro

Susan Tierney - 602-262-4668 desk / 602-292-4093 cell

"News media interested in additional information on this or any other
topic concerning the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality should
contact the Office of Communications at (602) 771-2215 or via email at
ms15@azdeq.gov."

To receive press releases by email: http://www.azdeq.gov/subscribe.html

Follow ADEQ on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/ArizonaDEQ

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