AQMD Smog Index Called ‘Inaccurate’; Revisions Urged

The South Coast Air Quality District’s daily smog reports could mislead the public into believing that air pollution is less harmful than it is, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said.

In a letter to AQMD Executive Officer James M. Lents, the EPA “strongly” urged the district to revise its “inaccurate” description of smog conditions, as measured by the pollutant standards index. The index is a barometer of air pollution conditions in the South Coast Air Basin, which includes Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

David P. Howekamp, regional director of the EPA’s air management division, noted for example that air quality during identical air pollution episodes would be described as “good” by the AQMD and “moderate” by the EPA. In more severe conditions, when the EPA would describe the air as “unhealthful for everyone,” the AQMD would say that it is “unhealthful for sensitive persons.”

Such reporting, Howekamp said, “could mislead the public as to the severity of the air quality.” He added, “The public residing in the South Coast Air basin is entitled to the same air pollution descriptive standards that are used in all other urban areas across the country.”

The AQMD’s smog forecasts, calling for “good” or “unhealthy” air quality, are the basis of air pollution reports disseminated by the news media.

Reevaluating Descriptions

Jim Birakos, deputy executive officer of the AQMD, said this week that the AQMD is in the midst of reevaluating its description of the health impacts of various pollution concentrations. But, Birakos said that the EPA has offered little or no advice that would help the district define when air quality is “good,” “moderate” or “unhealthful.”

He added that when the district first began reporting air quality conditions in 1977 the EPA agreed to the district’s scale.

Gladys Meade, director of environmental health for the American Lung Assn. of California, also called upon the AQMD to conform to federal practice.

“The system that’s in use in the South Coast does not give the true impact of the health effects of the air pollution levels that people are subjected to here,” said Meade. “It’s not just the very young, very old and very sick that are affected by high smog levels. We all are affected,” she said.

“I think it’s long overdue for the South Coast district to get in step with the rest of the country. If people realized the health consequences of smog they may be better motivated towards cleanup,” Meade said.