Air Quality Trends

Maine DEP staff analyzes data gathered at our various monitoring sites. There are many different things one can learn when analyzing data. One important part of air pollution data analyses is information about trends. DEP staff are interested in various trends such as:

• daily -- ozone levels are higher during the afternoon and evening while particle pollution levels tend to be higher morning and evening.
• annual -- ozone can reach levels of concern from late March through the end of September while particle pollution can reach levels of concern during the summer and winter months.
• historical -- pollution levels have been dropping from what they were 20 years ago.

DEP is interested in trends for many reasons. They include helping to decide where to deploy monitors and knowing the effectiveness of national and state pollution control legislation. For this purpose it is important to know the past and current design values for pollutants of concern.

DESIGN VALUE

Ozone --

The design value is an important number because this is what EPA and Maine DEP use to determine whether an area is attaining (meeting) the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for Ozone. (An explanation of how the design value is calculated can be found below the chart.) This chart cleary demonstrates that ozone levels in Maine have been dropping over the last 20 years. Since ozone is transported in from other areas, Maine's ozone levels drop when national and regional air quality controls are established by EPA.

The current Ozone NAAQS is an 8-hr average of 75 ppb and became effective on June 12, 2008.

The design value for each monitoring site is the average of the fourth highest daily 8-hr ozone concentration for each of 3 consecutive years as long as data recovery rates meet requirements. The graph above displays the maximum design value in the state and is identified by the last year of the three year average.

Technically, the design value of a site for 2010 would be the average of the fourth high 8-hr ozone concentrations from 2008 and 2009 and 2010 [as long as the monitor was operating and accurately reporting at least 75% of the time for each season (or the fourth high was >75 ppb) and a three year data collection rate of at least 90% (or the design value was >75 ppb)].

 

Particle pollution --

There are two design values for particle pollution.

• The (short-term) 24-hr design value is the three year average of the 98th percentile 24-hr concentration from each year. The yearly 98th percentile 24-hr concentration is determined by taking all of the monitored 24-hr concentrations for the year, ordering them from greatest to least, determining the 98th percentile position (the position equal to or greater than 98% of the data) and using the particle pollution 24-hr concentration at that position for that year. For example: if 50-99 valid 24-hr concentrations exist during the calendar year the 2nd highest concentration is the 98th percentile concentration and if 100-149 valid 24-hr concentrations exist during the calendar year the 3rd highest value is the 98th percentile 24-hr concentration.
• The annual design value is the 3 year average of the annual average. The annual average is determined by first calculating the average 24-hr concentration for each quarter of the year and then calculating the average of the 4 quarters.

The design value for a site can be determined (is valid) if the monitor meets data completeness requirements. The site must have valid data for at least 75% of the scheduled sampling days for each quarter unless the quarterly average or the 98th percentile 24-hr concentration exceeds the NAAQS.

In the chart below you can see both the 24-hour and the Annual maximum Design Values for the state. Maine has always been in attainment of the PM2.5 NAAQS.

If you would like to know more about daily, regional and annual trends contact us.