# Presentation: 709764

## Putting It all Together:Incorporating Fine Particle Outreach in a Predominantly Ozone Area

- Lewis Weinstock
- Forsyth County Environmental Affairs Department, Winston-Salem, NC
- 336-727-8060
- weinstl1@co.forsyth.nc.us

- Ozone

- PM2.5

## Air Quality Issues in NC

- Problem area for O3 _and_ PM2.5.
- Early history of 1-hr O3 nonattainment.
- Multiple areas on track for 8-hr O3 nonattainment.
- Potential violations of PM2.5 annual standard.
- O3 forecasting has become well recognized and receives good media attention.

- Courtesy: NC Division of Air Quality

- National Air Quality Conference

## PM2.5 Forecasting in the Triad

- Forsyth County began issuing PM2.5 forecasts in 2000 during O3 “off-season”.
- Transitioned to year-round multiple pollutant (O3, PM2.5, CO) program in 2001.
- Technical challenges included:
- New forecasting & verification techniques.
- Fewer sources of ambient data.
- Retooled display graphics.
- Staffing logistics.
- Details at: _[http://www.co.](http://www.co.forsyth.nc.us/EnvAffairs/PM25Forecasting.htm)__[forsyth](http://www.co.forsyth.nc.us/EnvAffairs/PM25Forecasting.htm)__[.](http://www.co.forsyth.nc.us/EnvAffairs/PM25Forecasting.htm)__[nc](http://www.co.forsyth.nc.us/EnvAffairs/PM25Forecasting.htm)__[.us/](http://www.co.forsyth.nc.us/EnvAffairs/PM25Forecasting.htm)__[EnvAffairs](http://www.co.forsyth.nc.us/EnvAffairs/PM25Forecasting.htm)__[/PM25Forecasting.](http://www.co.forsyth.nc.us/EnvAffairs/PM25Forecasting.htm)__[htm](http://www.co.forsyth.nc.us/EnvAffairs/PM25Forecasting.htm)_

- National Air Quality Conference

## Slide 4

- National Air Quality Conference

## Key Outreach Challenges (PM2.5 vs. O3)

- Year-round vs. O3 season.
- Less “bad” days.
- Different averaging time and diurnal cycle.
- Different health effects language,  sensitive population, and outreach “tips”.
- Issuing PM2.5 “alerts” ?
- Differentiating O3 and PM2.5 episodes.
- Not confusing the heck out of everybody including ourselves.

- Courtesy of www.swri.org

- National Air Quality Conference

## Media “Successes”

- 	Year-round daily printing in Greensboro & Winston-Salem newspapers.  Periodic regular coverage on television and news radio.  Constant oversight is necessary to maintain coverage and accuracy.

- National Air Quality Conference

## PM2.5 Program

- PM2.5 Program
- Adaptations

- Introduced PM2.5 references into forecast discussions.
- Issued PM2.5 alerts (USG or higher) with altered health language.
- Emphasized diurnal pattern differences (PM2.5 often rises at night!).
- Conduct basic PM2.5 education during outreach presentations.

- National Air Quality Conference

##  When ozone is high.......Active children and adults and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.  Time shift outdoor activities to the morning or evening when ozone is typically lower.

-  When ozone is high.......Active children and adults and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.  _Time shift outdoor activities to the morning or evening when ozone is typically lower._

-  When PM is high.......People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.  _Levels typically increase at night and during early morning so caution is advisable throughout the day_.

- National Air Quality Conference

## Establishing Link to Visibility

- National Air Quality Conference

## The importance of air quality forecasting and fine particle information to the media.  A conversation with Van Denton, Chief Meteorologist of FOX8 – WGHP (7.5 minutes).

**When Fine Particles are High...**

- National Air Quality Conference